# DEVELOPING DOSIMETRY OF RADIONUCLIDES GIVEN FOR THERAPY

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · 1987 · $192,555

## Abstract

The overall goal of the proposed research is quantification of
radiation absorbed dose delivered to patient tumors by
radiopharmaceuticals through the use of external imaging.

The preliminary aim is good correlation between calculated
absorbed dose and outcome therapy.  The ultimate aim is a simple
protocol based on tracer measurements so that all and only those
who will benefit from a particular treatment receive it.

Quantitative results to date document that the conjugate-view
method is not consistently accurate for determining tumor
activities.  Single-Photon-Emission-Computed Tomography
(SPECT) activities have been verified by phantom and excised-
tissue measurements to be accurage within 15% but further
testing and improvement are needed.  We propose refining and
implementing a new spectral fitting technique for correction of
Compton scattering, continuing the investigation of the
calculation and use of attenuation maps, and testing new methods
to obtain tumor activities, including one based on superimposition
of SPECT and Magnetic Resonance (MR) or X-ray Computer
Tomography (CT) images.  Dosimetric results to date indicate a
range of tumor radiation absorbed does from 24.5 Gy (2,450 rads)
to 115Gy (11,500) rads) for patients whose pheochromocytomas
were treated by 131I metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG).  Followup
of these patients is proceeding.  For dosimetry, we plan to check
assumptions about homogeneity of uptake by higher resolution
imaging, to investigate the effects of irregular tumor shape, to
verify that the uptake scales with the activity administered
(tracer compared to therapy) and to apply our techniques to MIBG
therapy of neuroblastomas in children and to potential
monoclonal-antibody therapy of melanoma and ovarian carcinoma.

The techniques developed for SPECT quantification in this
research should apply to other areas as well, such as thalium heart
imaging and single-photon regional-cerebral-blood-flow
measurements.

Our purpose, in summary, is to seek high accuracy in dosimetric
estimates, to reap the benefits of that accuracy in good
separation between responders and non-responders and thus to
assist in firmly establishing the field of radiopharmaceutical
treatment of disease.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3177081
- **Project number:** 2R01CA038790-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR
- **SAM.gov UEI:** GNJ7BBP73WE9
- **Principal Investigator:** KENNETH F KORAL
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1987
- **Award amount:** $192,555
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 1985-09-01 → 1990-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3177081

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3177081, DEVELOPING DOSIMETRY OF RADIONUCLIDES GIVEN FOR THERAPY (2R01CA038790-03). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3177081. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*