[Targeting therapy with adriamycin-monoclonal antibody (HAb18) conjugate in nude mice with human hepatocellular carcinoma xenografts].

Adriamycin (ADM) was linked covalently to the murine monoclonal antibody (McAb) HAb18 against human hepatocellular carcinoma via a dextran T-40 bridge. The molar ratio of HAb18: DEX: ADM was 1:2.4:56 in the conjugate. It was confirmed by immunochemical staining and ELISA that the antigen binding capacity of HAb18 in the conjugate was well preserved. In vitro study indicated that the conjugate cytotoxicity to tumor target cell lines was selective. The radio-immunoimaging and distribution of the conjugate labelled with 125I in the nude mice bearing human hepatocellular carcinoma showed that 125I-HAb 18-DEX-ADM conjugate was localized in the tumor site. The HAb18-DEX-ADM targeting therapy in nude mice bearing human hepatocellular carcinoma showed the following results: decreased tumor size and partly necrosed cancer tissue in contrast to the rapidly growing tumor in the control group (P < 0.05). Our study suggested that targeting therapy with HAb18-DEX-ADM conjugate may be useful in the treatment of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.