Chemotactic monoclonal antibody conjugates: a comparison of four different f-Met-peptide-conjugates.

Intratumor macrophage numbers are enhanced by the administration of chemotactic f-MET-LEU-PHE - antitumor antibody - conjugates. The four f-MET-peptides f-MET-LEU-PHE, f-MET-LEU-PHE-o-methylester, formyl-norleucyl-phenylalanine and formyl-methionyl-phenylalanine, all chemotactic for human monocytes, where evaluated alone and conjugated to the melanoma directed monoclonal antibody ZME 018. f-MET-LEU-PHE-o-methyl-ester is the most active peptide, whereas f-MET-LEU-PHE - ZME 018 is the most active conjugate, not only inducing a response at the lowest concentration, but also the highest migrating cell numbers.