Immunoscintigraphy with a technetium-99m labelled anti-epithelial growth factor receptor antibody in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.
BACKGROUND
A variety of human tumours, including non-small cell lung cancer, overexpress epithelial growth factor (EGF) receptors. In this study we evaluated the feasibility of immunoscintigraphy with a technetium-99m-labelled monoclonal antibody directed towards the EGF receptor (MINT5).


METHODS
The labelling with technetium-99m was performed using the glucoheptonate-iminothiolane method. Eight patients with non-small cell lung cancer were i.v. injected 740 MBq of MINT5. Neither side-effects, nor toxicity, nor HAMA response were observed. Each patient was submitted to total body planar images in anterior and posterior projections at 1-2 hours and at 4-6 hours after the injection.


RESULTS
Uptake of MINT5 was mainly visible in liver, spleen and bone marrow; it proved stable in vivo. The primary lung cancer was imaged in 7 out of 8 patients and metastases were detected in 3 out of 3 cases.


CONCLUSIONS
MINT5 is a safe and promising radiopharmaceutical for in vivo localization and biological characterization of non-small cell lung cancer.
Schillaci
O
O
Department of Biopathology and Diagnostic Imaging, University Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy. oschil@tiscalinet.it
Danieli
R
R
Picardi
V
V
Bagni
O
O
Di Loreto
M
M
Scopinaro
F
F
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018796:Immunoconjugates; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016719:Radioimmunodetection; D013667:Technetium
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D018796:Immunoconjugates; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D013667:Technetium; D066246:ErbB Receptors