Lymphoseek: a molecular imaging agent for melanoma sentinel lymph node mapping.

BACKGROUND: Lymphoseek is a molecular imaging agent specifically designed for sentinel lymph node mapping. We conducted a phase I clinical trial in which Lymphoseek was compared with filtered [(99m)Tc]sulfur colloid (fTcSC) for melanoma sentinel lymph node detection.

METHODS: Twenty-four patients (33-81 years) with melanoma participated in this study. Four groups of six patients received an intradermal administration (.5 mCi) of 1.0, 5.0, or 10.0 nmol of (99m)Tc-labeled Lymphoseek or filtered [(99m)Tc]sulfur colloid. The injection site clearance was monitored by nuclear imaging for 3 hours. Lymph nodes obtained by gamma-guided biopsy (4.0-8.7 hours after injection) were assayed for radioactivity. Clinical chemistry values were monitored (before injection, before surgery, and 4 and 24 hours), and whole-body scans were acquired at 1 and 12 hours after injection.

RESULTS: Lymphoseek exhibited a significantly (P < .001) faster injection site clearance at all dose levels. The mean Lymphoseek clearance half-time was 2.17 +/- .96 hours (n = 18) compared with 14.7 +/- 6.3 hours for fTcSC (n = 6). The mean sentinel lymph node uptakes of Lymphoseek (.73% +/- .94%) and fTcSC (.85% +/- 1.19%) were statistically equivalent (P = .68). Lymphoseek exhibited a lower mean number of sentinel lymph nodes per basin (1.6) than fTcSC (1.9). No adverse events were observed, nor were any clinically significant alterations in laboratory parameters. Radiation absorbed doses were lower than filtered [(99m)Tc]sulfur colloid.

CONCLUSIONS: The molecular imaging agent Lymphoseek demonstrated faster injection site clearance and equivalent primary sentinel node uptake when compared with filtered [(99m)Tc]sulfur colloid.