Abstract
We have shown that thioamides are incorporated as false precursors into melanin during its synthesis. To be clinically useful in the diagnosis or therapy of melanotic melanomas, they would have to be tagged with an appropriate isotope or possibly a cytotoxic moiety. 125I-Thiouracil (125I-TU) is here shown to be accumulated in the melanin of melanotic melanomas transplanted into mice in a similar way as is 14C-thiouracil (14C-TU). 125I-TU gives tumour/liver and tumour/muscle ratios up to 22 and 778 respectively, at 4 days after administration. 125I-TU is accumulated by melanoma cells in vitro more effectively than 14C-TU (125I-TU/14C-TU, 2.7), while the in vivo accumulation into melanomas is slightly lower for 125I-TU as compared to 14C-TU (125I-TU/14C-TU, 0.35). This appears to be due to a partial deiodination (less than 14% of the dose within 4 days) and probably a more rapid excretion of 125I-TU or its metabolite(s). The accumulation of radioactivity in the thyroid can essentially be eliminated by pretreatment with potassium iodide and/or thyroxine. 125I-Propylthiouracil is also accumulated in melanotic melanoma cells in vivo and in vitro, but at a lower level than in 125I-TU and 14C-TU.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 24 print issues and online access
$259.00 per year
only $10.79 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Larsson, B., Olander, K., Dencker, L. et al. Accumulation of 125I-labelled thiouracil and propylthiouracil in murine melanotic melanomas. Br J Cancer 46, 538–550 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1982.238
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1982.238