Abstract.To be able to evaluate new radiopharmaceuticals and optimize diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, relevant animal models are required. The aim of this study was to evaluate the medullary thyroid carcinoma GOT2 animal model by analyzing the biodistribution of 177 Lu-octreotate and 111 In-minigastrin (MG0). BALB/c nude mice, subcutaneously transplanted with GOT2, were intravenously injected with either 177 Lu-octreotate or 111 In-MG0, with or without excess of unlabeled human minigastrin simultaneously with 111 In-MG0. Animals were sacrificed 1-7 days after injection in the 177 Lu-octreotate study and 1 h after injection of 111 In-MG0. The activity concentrations in organs and tissues were determined and mean absorbed doses from 177 Lu were calculated. There was a specific tumor uptake of either 177 Lu-octreotate or 111 In-MG0. 177 Lu-octreotate samples showed high activity concentrations in tissues expressing somatostatin receptors (SSTR). For both radiopharmaceuticals the highest activity concentrations were found in the kidneys. Compared to results from similar studies in mice with another MTC cell line (TT) the biodistribution was favorable (higher tumor uptake) for the GOT2 model, while compared to other animal models expressing SSTR, the tumor uptake of 177 Lu-octreotate was modest. In conclusion, the GOT2 animal model is a valuable model for evaluation and optimization of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures using radiolabeled somatostatin, CCK2 and gastrin analogues prior to clinical studies.