Increased tumor localization by monoclonal antibody A7 after F(ab')2 fragmentation in athymic nude mice bearing human pancreatic carcinomas

Much recent research has been directed toward the use of monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) for the immunodetection of solid tumors. In pancreatic cancer, conventional immunoscintigraphy using intact MoAbs remains disappointing. In this study, 125I-labeled F(ab')2 fragments produced by pepsin digestion of MoAb A7 were injected intravenously into nude mice bearing human pancreatic cancer, HPC-YS, xenografts that have previously been shown to react specifically with MoAb A7. The tumor tissue/blood ratio of 125I-labeled F(ab')2 fragments of MoAb A7 increased with time and was much higher than those for normal tissues. Moreover, the tumor tissue/blood ratio of 125I-labeled F(ab')2 fragments was greater than that of intact MoAb A7, although the F(ab')2 accumulation was less than that of intact MoAb A7 in the tumor. These results suggest that F(ab')2 fragments of MoAb A7 may be suitable carriers of radionuclides for immunodetection of human pancreatic cancer. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.