Detection of thromboembolism with 99mTc-labeled F(ab)2 fragment of anti-glycoprotein IIIa chimeric monoclonal antibody in beagle canines.

INTRODUCTION: Rapid and timely diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE) and deep venous thrombosis (DVT) is important to improve patient outcome. The goal of this study was using (99m)Tc-chSZ21-F(ab)(2), F(ab)(2) fragment of anti-glycoprotein IIIa chimeric monoclonal antibody, to image experimental thromboembolism (DVT and PE) in dogs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Flow cytometry assay and adenosine diphosphate (ADP) stimulated platelet aggregation was performed to determine the specificity and affinity of chSZ21-F(ab)(2) to the GPIIb/IIIa receptor on human or canine platelets. Both PE and DVT were induced in 12 beagle canines by catheter under X-ray direction. After (99m)Tc-chSZ21-F(ab)(2) injection,animals were imaged for up to 3 hours then heparinized and sacrificed. RESULTS: Specific binding of chSZ21-F (ab)(2) to GPIIb/IIIa on human or canine platelets was verified by flow cytometry assay. chSZ21-F (ab)(2) inhibited ADP induced platelet aggregation with a dose-dependent manner, the concentration required to inhibit 50% (IC(50)) of platelet aggregation was 11.6 ± 7.9 nM and 24.9 ± 18.8 nM for human and canine, respectively. In vivo, focal uptake was observed in planar images as early as 30 min (DVT) and 60 min (PE), and became clearer within 3 hours after injection. Lesion-to-background ratio averaged 12.8 (PE-to-lung), 7.2 (DVT-to-blood), and 117.0(DVT-to-muscle), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggested that (99m)Tc-chSZ21-F(ab)(2) with high DVT and PE uptake is a promising agent for imaging vascular thrombosis.

Radioimmunoscintigraphy using technetium-99m-labeled parental mouse and mouse-human chimeric antibodies to carcinoembryonic antigen in athymic nude mice bearing tumor.

Biodistribution and imaging characteristics of Tc-99m-labeled parental mouse and mouse-human chimeric antibodies to carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), designated F11-39 and ChF11-39, respectively, were evaluated in athymic nude mice bearing the human CEA-producing gastric carcinoma (MKN-45) xenografts. Group F monoclonal antibodies such as F11-39 and ChF11-39 have been found to recognize the protein epitopes present on the domain B3 of the CEA molecule and to discriminate CEA in tumor tissues from the CEA-related antigens. The Tc-99m labeling was performed by immediately mixing a reduced antibody by 2-mercaptoethanol with Tc-99m pertechnetate in the presence of stannous chloride. The labeling yields of the two antibodies were greater than 95% when estimated using gel chromatography. Although these Tc-99m-labeled antibodies were stable in neutral saline solution, Tc-99m from both labeled antibodies was associated with cysteine solution. Technetium-99m ChF11-39 was more susceptible to transchelation than was Tc-99m F11-39. The immunoreactivity of each Tc-99m-labeled antibody was confirmed using MKN-45 cell-binding assay. Biodistribution studies in tumor-bearing mice were performed at 1 h, 5 h, and 20 h after being given IV injections of 3.7 MBq of either Tc-99m F11-39 or Tc-99m ChF11-39. All tumor-to-organ uptake ratios increased with time for both Tc-99m-labeled antibodies. Imaging results also showed selective and progressive accumulation of both Tc-99m antibodies at the tumor site. Both these Tc-99m-labeled antibodies have proved to be good radiotracers giving satisfactory scintigrams of the CEA-producing tumor.