131 I]-5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-hydroxyphenyl)porphyrin and [ 131 I]-5-(4-aminophenyl)-10,15,20-triphenylporphyrin ( 131 I-TPPOH and 131 I-TPPNH 2 ) were prepared and their biodistribution properties were evaluated in normal Kunming (KM) mice and SMMC-7721 tumor-bearing BALB/c mice. The optimized labeling yields were 98 and 96 % for 131 I-TPPOH and 131 I-TPPNH 2 , respectively. They were stable in vitro saline and in vivo. Both compounds had a specific affinity to liver and lung, and mainly metabolized through liver. They showed a time-dependent accumulation and retainable characteristics in SMMC-7721 tumor. These results supported their potential value for targeted tumor therapy agents.