title: An immunologic approach to tumor imaging.
abstract: There seems little doubt that the ability to prepare antibodies with a unique specificity for surface tumor antigens will have a tremendous usefulness in the diagnostic and therapeutics of cancer. This usefulness will be wide-ranged when the antibodies are labeled with radioisotopes as tools for screening for primary lesions to determine the presence and location of metastases. Therapeutically, such preparations can be used to deliver high doses of radiation to specific areas, as carriers of chemotherapeutic drugs, as well as take advantage of the intrinsic cytotoxicity of such materials. The major problem preventing general application is the production and purification of the tumor-specific antigen which can be used to prepare subsequent reactive antisera. Intensive efforts are going on into research in this area as well as the preparation and problems inherent with using specific antibodies on a diagnostic and therapeutic basis. Present research indicates that the former problem may be resolved reasonably soon and it is felt that this will lead to successful diagnostic and therapeutic tools. The various studies and problems are presented in this review in relation to their ultimate potential clinical usefulness.
mesh_terms: D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000276:immunology; D000939:Epitopes; D006801:Humans; D007553:Isotope Labeling; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging
chemical_list: D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D000939:Epitopes