ABSTRACT
To simulate the human situation concerning human monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), we have introduced a new syngenic rat model with an implanted rat colon carcinoma. Rat IgM MAbs (10B12), labelled by the chloramine-T method with 125I or internally with 35S, were injected intravenously into the rats and the biodistribution was studied for 8 days. The radioactivity uptake in the tumours of the 35S label was higher than that of the 125I label and the retention of 35S in the tumours gave tumour/blood ratios 8 times higher than those of 125I at 48 and 96 h after injection. In this model we have shown that dehalogenation of iodinated IgM MAbs is a serious problem. We therefore suggest that internally labelled MAbs should be used and that further investigations should be carried out in a syngenic rat model, since this probably reflects the clinical situation better than the nude mouse model.
