RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Sigma Receptor Scintigraphy with N-[2-(1′-Piperidinyl)Ethyl]-3-123I-Iodo-4-Methoxybenzamide of Patients with Suspected Primary Breast Cancer: First Clinical Results JF Journal of Nuclear Medicine JO J Nucl Med FD Society of Nuclear Medicine SP 1647 OP 1649 VO 43 IS 12 A1 Vicky Caveliers A1 Hendrik Everaert A1 Christy S. John A1 Tony Lahoutte A1 Axel Bossuyt YR 2002 UL http://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/43/12/1647.abstract AB The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of a new iodobenzamide, N-[2-(1′-piperidinyl)ethyl]-3-123I-iodo-4-methoxybenzamide (P-123I-MBA), to visualize primary breast tumor in humans in vivo. Tumor accumulation of benzamides is based on a preferential binding to sigma receptors that are overexpressed on breast cancer cells. Methods: P-123I-MBA (148–185 MBq) was administered to 12 patients with a mammographically suspicious breast mass. Two hours after administration, whole-body and spot images of the healthy and the diseased breast were obtained. Results: A focal increased tracer accumulation was observed in 8 of 10 patients with histologically confirmed breast cancer (mean tumor-to-background ratio, 2.04). No uptake was seen in a case of lymphatic adenitis. Conclusion: This preliminary patient study shows that P-123I-MBA accumulates in most breast tumors in vivo. Future work should focus on the relationship between P-123I-MBA uptake and the proliferative activity of cells to anticipate use of this technique as a tool to noninvasively assess the degree of tumor proliferation.