Patent ID: 6312661
Filing Date: 2001-11-06
Classification: A61K

Abstract:
A method of detecting and localizing Ductal Exocrine Pancreas tumours and their metastases in tissues, which in healthy condition and in non-neoplastic conditions of chronic inflammation do not contain substantial quantities of neurotensin-receptors, in the body of a human being, which comprises (i) administering to said being a composition comprising, in a quantity sufficient for external imaging, a peptide selected from the group consisting of neurotensin (NT), NT-receptor agonists, NT-receptor antagonists, NT analogues and NT derivatives, said peptide being labelled with (a) a radioactive metal isotope selected from the group consisting of .sup.99m Tc, .sup.203 Pb, .sup.67 Ga, .sup.68 Ga, .sup.72 As, .sup.111 In, .sup.113m In, .sup.97 Ru, .sup.62 Cu, .sup.64 Cu, .sup.52 Fe, .sup.52m Mn and .sup.51 Cr, or (b) with a paramagnetic metal atom selected from the group consisting of Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Pr, Nd, Sm, Yb, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho and Er, or (c) with a radioactive halogen isotope, selected from .sup.123 I, .sup.124 I, .sup.125 I, .sup.131 I, .sup.75 Br, .sup.76 Br, .sup.77 Br and .sup.82 Br, and thereupon (ii) subjecting said being to external imaging, by radioactive scanning or by magnetic resonance imaging, to determine the targeted sites in the body of said being in relation to the background activity, in order to allow detection and localization of said tumours in the body.