Evaluation of doxorubicin-induced early multi-organ toxicity in male CD1 mice by biodistribution of 18F-FDG and 67Ga-citrate. Pilot study.

The search for methods that identify early toxicity, induced by chemotherapy, is urgent. Changes in the biodistribution of radiopharmaceuticals could give information on early toxicity. Ten-week-old CD1 male mice were divided into four groups. Two groups were administered a weekly dose of 5 mg/kg of doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) for 5 weeks and the control groups were administered saline solution. One week after the end of treatment, the biodistribution of 18F-FDG and 67Ga-citrate were carried out, as was the quantification of plasma enzymes CK, CK-MB, LDH and AST. All enzymes were higher in the treated animals, but only significant (p < 0.05) in the case of CK-MB. 18F-FDG uptake increased in all organs of treated animals except retroperitoneal fat, being significant in spleen, brain, heart, liver, lung, kidney, and inguinal fat. 67Ga-citrate had a more complex pattern. The uptake in the DOX group was higher in spleen, lung, kidney, testes, and gonadal fat, it did not change in brain, heart, and liver, and it was lower in the rest of the organs. It only showed significant differences in lung and pancreas. A thorough discussion of the possible causes that produced the change in biodistributions of both radiopharmaceuticals is included. The pilot study showed that both radiopharmaceuticals could identify early multi-organ toxicity induced by DOX. Although 18F-FDG seems to be better, 67Ga-citrato should not be ruled out a priori. The detection of early toxicity would serve to adopt treatments that prevent its progression, thus improving patient's quality of life.