SCINTIGRAPHY WITH (99M)TECHNETIUM-J001X ACYLATED POLYGALACTOSIDE IN MELANOMA RECURRENCE

Since surgery is still the most effective treatment for accessible les ions, the earliest possible detection of melanoma metastases should im prove treatment results. In the early stages of their development tumo rs are characterized by a high relative macrophage content and therefo re the targeting of these cells would be an effective strategy for the scintigraphic visualization of small tumors. J001X, an acylated polyg alactoside with amphiphatic properties developed from the membrane pro teoglycan of Klebisella pneumoniae, is able to target macrophages sele ctively. We performed a study in 12 patients with skin adn lymph node metastases and in 14 disease-free patient, the first step being to ass ess the scintigraphic strategy using J001X in the imaging of melanoma recurrence. (99m)Technetium-J001X was administered by inhalation with an ultrasound nebulizer and then imaged 3 and 5 hours later using a ga mma-camera. In the first group, 5 of the 6 skin metastases and 10 of t he 11 lymph node metastatic foci were imaged with high scintigraphic c ontrast. In the control group scintigraphy was negative in 11 patients ; the 3 remaining patients had fixing foci. Our study shows that scint igraphy with the J001X macrophage targeting agent is effective for the visualization of skin and lymph mode melanoma recurrence. However, su ch targeting of macrophages cannot be specific for cancers and require s systematic checking of the fixing foci.