Radioimmunodetection and radioimmunotherapy of head and neck cancer

Börjesson, Pontus K.E; Postema, Ernst J; de Bree, Remco; Roos, Jan C; Leemans, C.René; Kairemo, Kalevi J.A; van Dongen, Guus A.M.S

doi:10.1016/j.oraloncology.2003.11.009

« Previous Next »Oral Oncology
Volume 40, Issue 8 , Pages 761-772, September 2004

Radioimmunodetection and radioimmunotherapy of head and neck cancer

Pontus K.E Börjesson
- Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, VU University Medical Center, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Ernst J Postema
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Medical Center Nijmegen, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 8, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Remco de Bree
- Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, VU University Medical Center, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Jan C Roos
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, VU University Medical Center, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
C.René Leemans
- Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, VU University Medical Center, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Kalevi J.A Kairemo
- Department of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, Uppsala University Hospital, S-75185 Uppsala, Sweden
Guus A.M.S van Dongen
- Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, VU University Medical Center, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +31-20-444-0953; fax: +31-20-444-3688

Received 12 November 2003; accepted 21 November 2003.

Abstract

Radiolabeled monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) can add a dimension to diagnostic imaging and staging of metastatic head and neck cancer, as well as in eradication of this disease. The vast majority of malignancies arising in the oral cavity, pharynx and larynx are squamous cell carcinomas. This common cellular origin makes it attractive to search for appropriate tumor-associated antigens, which are preferentially expressed in these neoplasms. Radiolabeled MAbs directed against these antigens can be used for tumor detection and selective therapy, known as radioimmunoscintigraphy and radioimmunotherapy, respectively. The combination of MAbs with positron emission tomography (PET) is an attractive novel option to improve tumor detection and to facilitate MAb quantification in a therapeutic setting. Basic aspects of tumor targeting with MAbs, as well as a review of the clinical trials reported in the literature, including own results, are presented.

Keywords: Radioimmunoscintigraphy, Radioimmunotherapy, Monoclonal antibodies, Squamous cell carcinoma, Positron emission tomography, Molecular imaging