TY - JOUR T1 - Research Scientist JF - Journal of Nuclear Medicine JO - J Nucl Med SP - 667 LP - 667 VL - 59 IS - supplement 1 AU - Patrick Causey Y1 - 2018/05/01 UR - http://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/59/supplement_1/667.abstract N2 - 667Aim: Production of a Thorium/Actinium Generator at the Canadian Nuclear Laboratories Objectives: The therapeutic potential of alpha emitting radioisotopes for the treatment of metastatic cancers has been demonstrated in the clinic. At the Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL), Chalk River ON., work is being conducted to produce an isotope generator using 233U as source material to construct a Th/Ac generator, which is to be used to provide a regular supply of 225Ac. Locally at CNL, a limited and controlled supply of aged 233U from previous fuel development programs is available. Work is underway to manually process the remaining stockpile of 233U to increase the size of the generator, such that a supply of 225Ac is readily available to support internal and collaborative efforts pertaining to preclinical TAT research within the CNL and with external academic investigators. Methods: A thorium fraction containing mostly the desired isotope 229Th has been isolated through a combination of anion exchange and extraction chromatographic techniques. Similarly, following implementation of a modified Eichrom® method for the extraction of Actinium, purified 225Ac was isolated and labeled to an anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antibody. 225Ac-DOTA-nimotuzumab is potential radioimmunotherapeutic agent against EGFR positive cancers. Results: As of now, the 233U source material has been processed and characterized by alpha spectroscopy and mass spectroscopic methods. In addition, solutions of dissolved source material have been radiochemically separated, to yield a supply of 229Th that has been similarly characterized. Regular milking of the generator has yielded MBq quantities of purified 225Ac. Furthermore, in an effort to increase the performance of the Th/Ac generator, an automated system has been integrated into the process. The resulting 225Ac was used to label DOTA-nimotuzumab with a radiochemical yield of 25% (95% radiochemical purity upon purification) and a specific activity of 0.03 MBq/µg. Conclusions: To support internal and collaborative research programs in Targeted Alpha Therapy, CNL has recently constructed a Th/Ac generator to regularly provide MBq quantities of this valuable isotope to support internal and collaborative research. The recent results pertaining to this area of the research, will be presented. ER -