ABSTRACT
The cell suspensions prepared from surgically resected hepatoma specimens were used to immunize BALB/c mice and, with the hybridoma technique, a battery of high affinity monoclonal anti-hepatoma antibodies were obtained which were designated HAbl8, Fll, E5 and A10 separately. Immunohistochimical staining showed that the above 4 antibodies possessed good selective reactivity with hepatoma tissue. After radioiodination of Fll, E5, A10, HAbl8 IgG and It's F(ab')_(2) fragments, the labelled reagents were employed for radioimmunoimaging in hepatoma-bearing nude mice and the in vivo detection appeared promising, with tumor/non-tumor ratios being 6.88, 5.14, 5.67, 5.15 and 14.47 respectively. The in vivo localization ablities of the antibodies seemed better compared to other similar findings published elswhere (Dunk AA, 1987). Also, ~(131) I -HAbl8 I gG and its radiolabelled fragments were utilized for radioimmunotherapy in hepatoma-bearing nude mice, with complete response rate and partial response rate being 42%(5/12) and 50% (6/12)respectively. When the HAbl8 conjugate with radioiodine was introduced for the in vivo imaging in hepatoma patients, a positivity rate of 86.5% (45/52)was witnessed, with the smallest tumor foci detected being only 0.5cm in diameter. In the in vivo targeting therapy with the immunoconjugate, a partial response rate of 69.6% (16/23) was obtained. In summary, the antibodies reported here have lended a novel regime for the present comprehensive therapy protocol of hepatoma.