Phenylacetate has been reported to have a potent anti-proliferative and anti-differentiating effect in haematological malignancies and in solid tumours at non-toxic concentrations. This study is a preliminary investigation of 131 Iradiolabelled 4-iodophenylacetic acid as a potential radiopharmaceutical equivalent. Radiolabelling by isotope exchange gave a radiochemical yield of 53 ± 6 %, and a radiochemical purity of 97.8 ± 1.2 %, as qualified by was recorded with a tumour to background ratio of 2. As the blood pool still contains high levels of activity after 5 h in mice, increased tumour uptake may occur at later time points, which might warrant further investigation.