Factors influencing localization of labeled antibodies in tumors.

Recent success with antibody to carcinoembryonic antigen makes it desirable to survey the practicality of producing other tumor-localizing antibodies for diagnosis and therapy. General procedures for reaching these goals are outlined. Experimental animal studies show some progress; detecting moderate-sized tumors by scanning appears a reasonable goal, but there is a basic lack of knowledge regarding the extent to which tumors express tumor-specific or associated antigens in vivo. This makes it difficult to evaluate the probability for success of different therapeutic proposals now under study. For organs not vital for the life and well-being of the patient, organ-specific antigens expressed on tumor may offer a target for immunological attack. Techniques for cloning antibody-producing cells promise more uniform and specific antibody preparations.