BS(Hon), Pharmacy, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 1971

This laboratory has been involved in radiopharmaceutical development and clinical application of monoclonal antibodies, specifically 1A3, an anticolorectal carcinoma antibody. Efforts initially focused on labeling 1A3 with In-111 using the ligand BrØHBED for use with gamma camera instrumentation. Clinical trials indicated lack of sensitivity for localizing potential areas of increased activity in the liver and lung. Positron emission tomography (PET), which offers a more sensitive and specific imaging modality focused our interest on labeling this antibody with Cu-64, a positron emitting radionuclide. Clinical trials have been successful using Cu-64 TETA-MAb-1A3.

Since Tc-99m has an ideal energy for use with gamma camera instrumentation, and is the isotope of choice for clinical nuclear medicine, further research efforts are being made to radiolabel the 1A3-F(ab")2 with Tc-99m. This researcher has conjugated 1A3 intact and F(ab')2 uing the hydrazino nicotinamide bifunctional chelate SHNH. Tumor uptake in the hamster model has shown %ID/g results comparable to the Cu-64 labeled 1A3 fragment.

Pre-clinical studies are ongoing, comparing the in vivo and in vitro therapeutic response using tumor models for Cu-64 and Cu-67 labeled MAb-1A3. This researcher has been involved in performing the dosimetry calculations for the absorbed dose delivered to the tumor for these radiolabeled MAbs.