[Immune reactions and survival of patients with ovarian carcinomas after administration of 131I-F(Ab)2 fragments of the OC 125 monoclonal antibody].

The activation of the idiotypic network seems to be a beneficial approach to the immunological therapy of ovarian cancer. In a retrospective study 62 patients with ovarian carcinoma (of which 57 could be evaluated) received 1 mg of 131J-F(Ab)2 OC 125 MAb one to five times after radical surgery and polychemotherapy. In twenty-eight patients (49%) a remarkable anti-idiotypic antibody (Ab2) response arose. The anti-idiotypic antibody (Ab2) plasma levels increased with increasing number of F(Ab)2 OC 125 MAb applications. The twenty patients (35%) who developed Ab2-concentrations > 10,000 U/ml had a significantly higher survival rate than the patients who showed weak (Ab2-concentrations < 10,000 U/ml) or no immunological response to 131J-F(Ab)2 OC 125 MAb treatment (p < 0.05).