Complementation of intracavitary and intravenous administration of a monoclonal antibody (B72.3) in patients with carcinoma.

Monoclonal antibody (MAb) B72.3 has been shown to have selective reactivity for a wide range of carcinomas (colorectal, ovarian, breast, lung, gastric, and endometrial) versus normal adult tissues. 131I-Labeled B72.3 IgG has recently been shown to selectively bind carcinoma lesions when administered i.v. in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. We report here the first direct comparison of i.p. administered [131I]B72.3 IgG to specifically localize metastatic carcinoma. Three of 10 patients studied were negative for tumor detection by both CAT scan and X-ray but were positive for tumor localization via gamma scanning i.p. administered 131I-labeled MAb B72.3 IgG. Direct analyses of biopsy specimens of carcinoma and normal tissues demonstrated ratios of greater than 70:1 (based on percentage of injected dose/mg) for tumor MAb localization versus normal tissues. Specificity of [131I]B72.3 tumor targeting was demonstrated by the concomitant administration of an equal dose of an 125I-labeled isotype identical (IgG1) control MAb. Simultaneous i.p. administration of [131I]B72.3, and i.v. administration of [125I]B72.3 in individual patients demonstrated: peritoneal implants are targeted more efficiently via i.p. MAb administration, and hematogenously spread and lymph node metastases as well as local recurrences are targeted more efficiently by i.v. administered MAb. No antibody toxicity was observed in any patients. Pharmacokinetics of MAb clearance demonstrated that only 10 to 30% of the i.p. administered MAb was found in plasma. These studies thus demonstrate the efficacy of intracavitary MAb administration as well as the advantage of the concomitant use of intracavitary and i.v. administered MAbs for tumor targeting and for potential MAb guided therapy of metastatic carcinoma.