The imaging potential of a series of [
123I]benzamides was studied in mice bearing B16F0 melanoma tumors.Compound [
123I]
25 exhibited tumor uptake >8 %ID/g at 1 h, while that of [
123I]
14d and [
123I]
25 reached amaximum of 9-12 %ID/g at 6 h. Standardized uptake values of [
123I]
14d were higher than 100 between 24and 72 h after injection. In haloperidol treated animals, the tumor uptake of [
123I]
14d was not significantlydifferent to controls, while significant reduction of [
123I]
25 uptake was observed, supporting that [
123I]
14duptake relates to melanin interaction, whereas part of the mechanism of [
123I]
25 uptake is related to its
1-receptor affinity. Benzamides
14d and
25, which display rapid and high tumor uptake, appear to bepromising imaging agents for melanoma detection, while
14d, which displays a long lasting and highmelanoma/nontarget ratio, is more suitable for evaluation as a potential radiotherapeutic.