Chemotoxicity of indium-111 oxine in mammalian cells.

We have studied the uptake and toxicity of [111In]oxine in Chinese hamster V79 lung fibroblasts. The incorporation of the radionuclide into these cells reached a plateau within 2 hr. Uptake was proportional to the extracellular radioactive concentration. Both radioactive and "decayed" [111In]oxine exhibited similar toxicities, indicating that the observed toxicity was chemical in nature. These results are discussed in terms of the present status of this radiolabeling agent.