Definition

A radioisotope with an atomic number of 75 and a half-life of 17 hours, with beta particle-emitting radiocytotoxic activity. Emitted by rhenium Re 188, beta particles directly damage cellular DNA and, by ionizing intracellular water to produce several types of cytotoxic free radicals and superoxides, indirectly damage intracellular biological macromolecules, resulting in tumor cell death.