Lutetium biodistribution in rat organ and tissue and consecutive changes after lutetium salt injection

In modern cancer treatment practices, combination of different methods is the most effective strategy. The best result in cancer therapy is reported to be after radionuclide therapy, especially in combination with target methods. Lutetium-177 is widely used for radionuclide therapy of different cancers. Thus, it seems relevant to determine how this element distributes in various tissues and organs. The objective of the study is to examine lutetium chloride pattern in white rat organs and tissues after different injection methods. Materials and Methods. The objects of the study were organs and tissues of white rats. Lutetium salt biodistribution in organs and tissues was determined by the method of atomic emission spectroscopy. Morphological examination was carried out according to a standard histological technique. Results. The study showed that lutetium accumulated mainly in the tissues of a liver, pancreas, spleen, small intestine, thymus and lymph node. A small amount of lutetium was found in the lungs, heart, kidneys, testis, sternum, brain, skin and blood of rats. Histological tissue analysis revealed chronic inflammation of the immune system and compensatory-adaptive processes in the liver. It is worth noting that there were no pathological changes in organs, which did not belong to the immune system after lutetium injections. Conclusion. Revealed pattern of non-radioactive lutetium biodistribution in white rat organs and tissues could be partially used in development of methods for treating oncological diseases of the lymphatic system and liver.