[The diagnostic value of immunoscintigraphy using the monoclonal antibody OV-TL3 in patients with ovarian carcinoma].

Immunoscintigraphy, using radiolabeled monoclonal antibodies directed against tumor associated antigens, is a relatively new method for the detection of tumour localizations. The diagnostic accuracy of immunoscintigraphy was compared with computer tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound, physical examination, and the CA 125 serum assay in patients suspected of having primary or recurrent ovarian cancer. One mg of the murine monoclonal antibody OV-TL3 F(ab')2 was labeled with 4 mCi 111Indium and administered intravenously to 28 patients. No adverse reactions were noted. Twenty patients underwent extensive explorative laparotomy 3 to 8 (median 4 days) days after injection of the immunoconjugate, allowing a histopathological verification of the actual tumour status of each patient. The sensitivity of immunoscintigraphy for the detection of ovarian cancer was at least equal to that of the other diagnostic methods. However, with immunoscintigraphy more tumour localizations were identified.