title: Efficient in vivo targeting of malignant melanoma by single-chain Fv antibody fragments.
abstract: Single-chain antibody fragments (scFvs) have superior pharmacokinetic and biodistribution characteristics compared with larger antibody fragments when used for radioimaging of human tumours. An scFv specific for malignant melanoma (B4 scFv) was tested in a mouse xenograft model for human melanoma and compared with the monoclonal antibody (MAb) LHM2. LHM2 is specific for the high molecular weight proteoglycan melanoma-associated antigen (HMW-MAA), while B4 scFv binds a novel melanoma-specific antigen. The B4 scFv was cleared rapidly from the circulation (t(1/2)alpha = 7 min) compared with LHM2 MAb (t(1/2)alpha = 37 min). However, the B4 scFv had an unusually long t(1/2)beta (437 min compared with 384 min for LHM2 MAb). Biodistribution studies showed that B4 accumulated specifically in the tumour grafts. Although non-specific accumulation in the liver, lung, spleen and blood was lower than with LHM2, non-specific accumulation of B4 in the kidney was higher. Despite this, the overall targeting efficiency in this study, as determined by tumour:normal tissue ratios, showed that B4 was superior to whole antibody. Immunoscintigraphy images showed good correlation with the biodistribution data for B4 and LHM2. This study represents the first use of an anti-melanoma scFv in vivo.
authors.affiliation: RAFT Institute of Plastic Surgery, Mount Vernon Hospital, Northwood, Middlesex, UK. hankang@connectfree.co.uk
authors.forename: N V
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sanders
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kupsch
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D000915:Antibody Affinity; D005720:Gamma Rays; D006801:Humans; D007128:Immunoglobulin Fragments / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D007167:Immunotherapy; D008546:Melanoma, Experimental / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D008657:Metabolic Clearance Rate; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007128:Immunoglobulin Fragments