The mechanism of 67Ga localization in malignant disease

Nucl Med Biol. 1996 Aug;23(6):745-51. doi: 10.1016/0969-8051(96)00119-9.

Abstract

After almost two decades of research, evidence suggests that transferrin receptors are rate-limiting in 67Ga uptake, 67Ga imaging is an in vivo detector of transferring receptors and an indicator of tumor cell proliferation. Moreover, 67Ga can be incorporated into tumor cells by a transferrin receptor-independent process. This pathway could be important in patients with saturated transferrin. Data that appear to support the concept that transferrin receptor-independent transporters are rate-limiting can be resolved by considering the presence of the gallate ion, [67Ga (OH)4]-.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Gallium Radioisotopes / pharmacokinetics*
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Radionuclide Imaging
  • Receptors, Transferrin / metabolism

Substances

  • Gallium Radioisotopes
  • Receptors, Transferrin