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Table 1 Unique differences between bone-seeking radionuclides

From: A single arm phase II study of bone-targeted Sn-117 m-DTPA in symptomatic castration-resistant prostate cancer with skeletal metastases

 

Beta-emitter

Alpha-emitter

Study drug (117 m-Sn-DTPA)

Characteristics

High-energy, high-speed electron (variable energy and penetrance)

Highly localized (short range), high-linear energy transfer

Low energy conversion electron emitter (monoenergetic and finite penetrance)

Range in tissue (µm)

50–5000

40–90

300

Bio-distribution

 

-Bone uptake 52% (41–57%)

-Rapid disappearance from soft tissue

-Excrete through small bowel

-Bone uptake 82% and resides in cortical bone rather than adjacent bone marrow cavity

-Rapid disappearance from soft tissue

-Excrete through kidney

Side effects

Greater bone marrow toxicity

Moderate bone marrow toxicity

Least bone marrow toxicity

Decay

Beta decay

Gamma

Gamma (159 keV)

Half-life

1.9 days (153Sam), 14.3 days (32 P) and 50.5 days (89Sr)

11.4 days

14 days