Propranolol hydrochloride enhancement of tumor perfusion and uptake of gallium-67 in a mouse sarcoma.

The effect of propranolol hydrochloride on the blood perfusion of a mouse sarcoma and other tissues has been studied using 86Rb. The maximum increase in relative tumor perfusion (2x controls) occurred 15 min after an i.v. administration of 10 mg per kg propranolol hydrochloride. To study the effect of this drug on the uptake of 67Ga, it was injected at a concentration of 10 mg/kg 10 min before administering 3 microCi (110 kBq) [67Ga]citrate. Tissue uptakes were measured 4 hr later. The tumor: blood ratio increased from 1.16 +/- 0.17 to 3.41 +/- 2.27 (s.d.) and tumor: liver ratio increased from 2.39 +/- 0.30 to 7.13 +/- 3.52 (s.d.). The results showed that propranolol hydrochloride can improve the relative tumor blood flow and radiopharmaceutical concentration in an animal model. It is hoped that this and other agents will yield similar results in the human situation.