Antibodies labeled with fluorescence-agent excitable by infrared rays.

Endoscopy is not significantly better than fiberoscopy for the diagnosis of minute cancers of the digestive tract. However, labeling of these lesions with an agent that can be detected videoendoscopically, with subsequent computer processing of the electronic signals, should facilitate endoscopic diagnosis of microlesions. We developed an antibody labeled with an indocyanine green(ICG) derivative that has a specific fluorescence emission at 807 nm upon excitation at 768 nm. The physiochemical characteristics of this labeled antibody resemble those of ICG. The activity of the antibody is suitable for immunohistochemical staining, and the antibody fluoresces under infrared ray excitation. This antibody should prove useful for performing vital immunostaining for infrared endoscopy.