Radioimmunotherapy of malignancies

Journal Article · Wed May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1991 · Clinical Pharmacy (Bethesda); (United States)

OSTI ID:5321902

Reilly, R M ^[1]

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1. Division of Nuclear Medicine, Toronto Hospital, Ontario (Canada)

The critical issues in radioimmunotherapy are highlighted, and novel ways of improving the therapeutic indexes of radioimmunotherapeutic agents are outlined. The use of radioactively labeled monoclonal antibodies to treat malignant tumors has been investigated in animals and humans. Radionuclides suitable for labeling antibodies for such use include iodine 125, iodine 131, yttrium 90, rhenium 188, and copper 67. Radiobiological factors to be considered in radioimmunotherapy include the size and density of the tumor and the ability of a radiolabeled antibody to penetrate the tumor nodule. The dose of radiation required to destroy a tumor varies; however, the whole-body dose must not exceed 200 rads to avoid irreversible toxicity to the bone marrow. Despite the theoretical inadequacy of radiation doses to tumors indicated by conventional dosimetry, responses have been observed in animals and humans. More reliable and accurate dosimetric methods are under development. The induction of human antimouse antibodies can alter the pharmacokinetics of radiolabeled antibodies. Improving the therapeutic index of radioimmunotherapeutic agents may be achieved through regional therapy, administering a secondary antibody to improve clearance, combining radioimmunotherapy with external-beam irradiation, using an avidin-biotin conjugate system to deliver the radiolabeled antibodies, and addressing the problem of tumor antigen heterogeneity. Researchers are working to reduce or eliminate the clinical problems associated with radioimmunotherapy. Hematologic malignancies, such as lymphomas, are more likely than solid tumors to respond satisfactorily. 110 refs.

• OSTI ID: 5321902
• Journal Information: Clinical Pharmacy (Bethesda); (United States), Journal Name: Clinical Pharmacy (Bethesda); (United States) Vol. 10:5; ISSN CPHAD; ISSN 0278-2677
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550604* -- Medicine-- Unsealed Radionuclides in Therapy-- (1980-)
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ANIMAL TISSUES
ANIMALS
ANTIBODIES
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BODY
BONE MARROW
COPPER 67
COPPER ISOTOPES
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
DISEASES
DOCUMENT TYPES
DOSES
ELECTRON CAPTURE RADIOISOTOPES
EVALUATION
HEAVY NUCLEI
HEMATOPOIETIC SYSTEM
HOURS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
IMMUNOLOGY
IMMUNOTHERAPY
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
INTERNAL CONVERSION RADIOISOTOPES
IODINE 125
IODINE 131
IODINE ISOTOPES
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
MAMMALS
MAN
MEDICINE
MICE
MINUTES LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES
NEOPLASMS
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
ORGANS
PRIMATES
RADIATION DOSES
RADIOIMMUNOLOGY
RADIOIMMUNOTHERAPY
RADIOISOTOPES
RADIOLOGY
RADIOTHERAPY
REVIEWS
RHENIUM 188
RHENIUM ISOTOPES
RODENTS
THERAPY
TISSUES
VERTEBRATES
YTTRIUM 90
YTTRIUM ISOTOPES