Inhibition of gallium-67 uptake in melanoma by an anti-human transferrin receptor monoclonal antibody.

The effect of an anti-human transferrin receptor (anti-TFR) monoclonal antibody (MoAb), designated B3/25, and an anti-melanoma antibody, designated 96.5, on the uptake of gallium-67 (67Ga) by tumor was studied. Three groups of six athymic mice bearing a human melanoma were injected via tail vein with (a) 0.55 mg human serum albumin (HSA) (control group), (b) 0.5 mg MoAb B3/25 + 0.55 mg HSA, and (c) 0.5 mg MoAb 96.5 + 0.55 mg HSA, respectively. Twenty-four hours later, each mouse was given an intravenous dose of 5 microCi [67Ga] citrate. Biodistribution of activity (percent injected dose per gram) determined 48 hr after injection of 67Ga showed a 75% decrease in tumor uptake in the group of mice that received B3/25 (anti-TFR MoAb) compared with the control group. In contrast, MoAb 96.5 did not show any effect on melanoma uptake of 67Ga. Histologic findings suggest that the decreased uptake was not due to cellular damage resulting from binding of B3/25 to TFR. The results of this study strongly suggest the involvement of TFR in the in vivo tumor uptake of 67Ga.