Rhenium-188: Availability from the W-188/Re-188 Generator and Status of Current Applications

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2012 · Current Radiopharmaceuticals

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2174/1874471011205030228· OSTI ID:1045302

Pillai, M R A ^[1]; Dash, A ^[1]; Knapp, Jr, Russ F ^[2]

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1. Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, India
2. ORNL

Rhenium-188 is one of the most readily available generator derived and useful radionuclides for therapy emitting - particles (2.12 MeV, 71.1% and 1.965 MeV, 25.6%) and imageable gammas (155 KeV, 15.1%). The 188W/188Re generator is an ideal source for the long term (4-6 months) continuous availability of no carrier added (nca) 188Re suitable for the preparation of radiopharmaceuticals for radionuclide therapy. The challenges associated with the double neutron capture route of production of the parent 188W radionuclide have been a major impediment in the progress of application of 188Re. Tungsten-188 of adequate specific activity can be prepared only in 2-3 of the high flux reactors operating in the World. Several useful technologies have been developed for the preparation of clinical grade 188W/188Re generator. Since the specific activity of 188W used in the generator is relatively low (<5 Ci/g), the eluted 188ReO4- can have low radioactive concentration often insufficient for radiopharmaceutical preparation. However, several efficient post elution concentration techniques have been developed that yield clinically useful 188ReO4-. Rhenium-188 has been used for the preparation of therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals for the management of diseases such as bone metastasis, rheumatoid arthritis and primary cancers. Several early phase clinical studies using radiopharmaceuticals based on 188Re-labeled phosphonates, antibodies, peptides, lipiodol and particulates have been reported. This article reviews the availability, and use of188Re including a discussion of why broader use of 188Re has not progressed as ecpected as a popular radionuclide for therapy.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: DE-AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 1045302
• Journal Information: Current Radiopharmaceuticals, Vol. 5, Issue 3; ISSN 1874-4710
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS
ANTIBODIES
AVAILABILITY
CAPTURE
DISEASES
LIPIODOL
MANAGEMENT
NEUTRON REACTIONS
PARTICULATES
PEPTIDES
PHOSPHONATES
PRODUCTION
RADIOISOTOPES
RADIOPHARMACEUTICALS
RHENIUM 188
RHEUMATIC DISEASES
THERAPY
TUNGSTEN 188
Medical Radioisotopes
Radionuclide Generators
Clinical Applications
Therapeutic Radioisotopes
Diagnostic Radioisotopes