RADIOLABELING OF MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODIES WITH METAL-CHELATES

For nearly a decade, the monoclonal antibody (MoAb) technique has been regarded as an encouraging and promising approach which may lead to rapid advances in both diagnosis and therapy of human cancer. This paper deals with all the chemical aspects of the radiolabeling of MoAbs with metal chelates. It elucidates the selection of radionuclides to be used for diagnostic purpose and therapeutic use. It reviews all the bifunctional chelating agents used in labeling MoAbs with metal radionuclides, and the prime techniques related to the protein modification, i.e., the coupling of MoAb and chelator, and the subsequent process of radiolabeling. Factors affecting tumor-to-normal tissue ratios are discussed. The comparative assessment of advantages and disadvantages of In-111 and I-131 labels is made.