**2. Radiopharmaceuticals**

In radiopharmaceuticals, there is a radioactive component which is used for the diagnosis and treatment of different malignancies. Only 5% of radiopharmaceuticals are used for therapeutic purposes while the remaining has diagnostic applications. Radiopharmaceutical has two components: first one is pharmaceutical part and the second is radiotracer as shown in **Figure 1**.

**Figure 1.** *Radiopharmaceutical and its design.*

*Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) Radiopharmaceuticals DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.93449*


**Table 2.**

injected into the patient's body. Intravenously administrated radiopharmaceuticals accumulate in specific body part or organ for which it is prepared and scans are obtained by single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) camera [1]. Scan generated by SPECT camera gives very fruitful information regarding disease and tumor, which makes it easier for doctors to make decision about treatment

**Emitting radiation**

Pentadecapeptide Technetium-99m γ-emitting Breast and prostate cancer, gastro-entero-

**Tilmanocept** technetium-99m γ-emitting Breast cancer, melanoma and oral Cavity

**Pertechnetate** technetium-99m γ-emitting Urinary and bladder thyroid cancer Iodinated bombesin I-125 γ-emitting Endocrine cancer cell growth in endocrine

FDG-F-18 γ-emitting Soft tissue cancer and prostate cancer

*Gamma-emitting radiotracer for diagnostic imaging of different types of cancer and infection [1].*

Bombesine indium-111 γ-emitting Endocrine organ tumor

Oxdronate-99mTc γ-emitting Bones disease

Bombesine rhenium-188 γ-emitting Prostate tumor

Oxdronate-99mTc γ-emitting Bones disease

**Cancer type/disease**

cancer

pancreatic tumors and lung cancer

organ breast, prostate, ovaries and testes

A large number of compounds have been labeled with γ-emitting radiotracers for imaging of different types of cancer and infection. Some of them are shown in

In radiopharmaceuticals, there is a radioactive component which is used for the diagnosis and treatment of different malignancies. Only 5% of radiopharmaceuticals are used for therapeutic purposes while the remaining has diagnostic applications. Radiopharmaceutical has two components: first one is pharmaceutical part

strategies.

**Figure 1.**

**4**

*Radiopharmaceutical and its design.*

**Table 1.**

**Table 1** below [2].

**2. Radiopharmaceuticals**

**Targeted agent with labeled**

**radiotracer**

*Medical Isotopes*

and the second is radiotracer as shown in **Figure 1**.

*Commonly used radiopharmaceuticals for therapeutic purpose [4].*

Effectiveness of the radiopharmaceutical depends upon both parts. In order to prepare a good and efficient radiopharmaceutical, the first step involves the selection of a pharmaceutical component which is very critical [3]. Pharmaceuticals that have a preferable accumulation in targeted body organ, tissues, or cells should be selected. After the selection of pharmaceutical component, pharmaceutical is labeled with a suitable radiotracer. The radiopharmaceutical is subjected to administration after a routine quality control procedure. There are many disease targeted radiolabeled agents or compounds that are commonly used for diagnosis and therapeutic purpose. From diagnostic point of view, disease-targeted agents (either a drug or any other compound) are labeled with γ-emitting radiotracer, and for therapeutic purpose, these agents are labeled with β and α radiotracer like lutetium-177 (177Lu) and Yatrium-90 (90Y) [4]. In **Table 2**, some of the disease-targeted agents (radiopharmaceuticals) are shown which are used for diagnostic imaging and therapeutic purpose of different diseases and cancers.
