Radiolabeled DNase, a potential indicator for noninvasive detection of tissue damage

Pancreatic DNase I was labeled with 131I or fluorescamine and injected IV into NMRI mice bearing a sarcoma 180. Of the injected tracer, 1.5%–2% was found to accumulate per g tumor. In sections of tumor tissue DNase was localized in damaged cells in solid and necrotic tumor regions. This binding is most probably due to specific interaction of DNase with actin, an ubiquitous cytoskeletal protein. Two-component blood clearance with a rapid first component (two–thirds of applied radioactivity) was observed. The labeled tumor could easily be visualized by gamma camera imaging. The findings suggest DNase to be a potent radiopharmaceutical for imaging damaged tissue, occurring in malignant tumors as well as in infarcts, and inflammatory lesions.