title: Immunoscintigraphy of patients with head and neck carcinomas, with an anti-angiogenetic antibody fragment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In a phase I/II clinical study, we investigated tumor targeting in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (SCC), using an antibody directed against the extra-domain-B of fibronectin (EDB), a marker of angiogenesis and tissue remodeling.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five patients with SCC were injected with the 123-iodine-radiolabeled L19(scFv)2 antibody and underwent scintigraphic detection with single photon emission tomography with computerized tomography (SPECT/CT). In addition, 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18FDG) positron emission tomography with computerized tomography (PET/CT) was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Successful targeting of the primary tumor could be achieved in 4 of 5 patients and was comparable to PET imaging. No side effects were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tumor targeting with the L19(scFv)2 antibody is also feasible for head and neck SCC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results may serve as a base for future therapeutical applications in human beings, with modified versions of the L19(scFv)2 antibody, designed to selectively deliver bioactive molecules into malignant tumors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. manfred.birchler@usz.ch
authors.forename: Manfred T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Birchler
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Thuerl
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schmid
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Neri
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Waibel
authors.forename: August
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schubiger
authors.forename: Sandro J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Stoeckli
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schmid
authors.forename: Gerrhard W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Goerres
mesh_terms: D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000276:immunology*; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000276:immunology*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; C067625:FN1 protein, human; D005353:Fibronectins