Effect of Kinase Inhibitors on the Technetium-99m Uptake into Thyroid Carcinoma Cells In Vitro

Background/aim: We evaluated the potential of the kinase inhibitors sorafenib, lenvatinib and selumetinib on increasing the uptake of technetium-99m into thyroid cancer cells.

Materials and methods: Four established cell lines and three patient's cell cultures were treated with 0.1, 1 and 5 μM of sorafenib, lenvatinib and selumetinib for 72 hours. After incubation with 1 MBq of technetium-99m, the radioactivity uptake was measured.

Results: The experiments showed heterogeneous results. Maximum technetium-99m uptake increases of 312% (sorafenib), 326% (lenvatinib) and 759% (selumetinib) were obtained using the highest applied concentrations. In some tests, an uptake reduction or no effect was observed.

Conclusion: Kinase inhibitors have a positive effect on technetium-99m uptake. Due to study limitations, a redifferentiating effect of the drugs could not be definitely proven. Unspecific cytotoxicity might have a confounding effect.