Detection and treatment of occult metastases with radiolabeled monoclonal antibodies

Monoclonal antibody (MAb) technology is entering its second decade already well established as an important tool of science, and many clinical applications are under investigation. Among these is tumor imaging, using radiolabeled MAbs. The radiochemistry of labeling antibodies with preservation of immunoreactivity has been developed for several elements including indium (In) and iodine (I) and is under development for copper, bromine, yttrium, technetium, rhenium, and astatine. Each has advantages and disadvantages; different radionuclides are optimum for different situations. Several dozen MAbs to carcinomas are in regular production and are shared among investigating laboratories. Virtually all of them show pancarcinoma reactivity; that is, they bind to a broad class of carcinomas. Only rarely does one MAb react with all carcinomas from a particular organ site