Simulations and tests for metabolic radiotherapy with 188Re

188Re is a beta and gamma emitter used in metabolic radiotherapy. SCINTIRAD is a multidisciplinary collaboration that aims at determining the radio-response of 188Re in cells “in vitro” and the biodistribution in different organs of mice “in vivo”, and studying the therapeutic effect on liver and other tumours induced in mice. Several tumour cell lines have been treated “in vitro” with a 188Re solution. The dosimetry of 188Re used to target the different lines of cancer cells has been evaluated using GEANT4, and preliminary results are presented. Studies to optimize the imaging of 188Re “in vivo” have also continued, including the characterization of H8500 Flat Panel PMT and of LaBr3 crystals, and the development of dedicated electronics.