Carbohydrates as potential diagnostic tracers for brain tumors

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Abstract
Currently available diagnostic tracers for brain tumors are not specific. Tumor-specific tracers would improve the detection of brain tumors by .gamma.-encephalography. Glucose is an important substrate for tumor metabolism and is known to be taken up in large amounts. Five labeled carbohydrates were studied in an attempt to find a tumor-specific tracer: 3 were tritiated (L-galactose-1-3H, L-fucose-3H and 4,6-dideoxyxylohexose-3H) and 2 were radioiodinated (methyl-6-125I-6-deoxy-D-glucoside and 6-125I-6-deoxy-D-glucose). The uptake of these tracers by a transplantable mouse ependymoblastoma after i.v. injection was determined by liquid and well scintillation counting. The highest tumor-to-brain ratio was 7.1:1 for the tritiated tracers and 6.2:1 for the radioiodinated tracers. Although these ratios were not high enough for .gamma.-encephalography, 1 of the iodinated tracers may be useful for enhancement of contrast in computerized axial tomography.