# IMPROVED CANCER IMAGING BY SECOND ANTIBODY

> **NIH NIH R01** · CTR FOR MOLECULAR MEDICINE/IMMUNOLOGY · 1988 · $166,665

## Abstract

We propose to study whether a second antibody (SA) will be able to improve
radioimmunodetection of cancer with a primary radiolabeled anticancer
antibody (PA).  Preliminary studies indicate that a second antibody reduces
circulating radiolabeled primary antibody, thereby improving tumor/blood,
as well as tumor/nontarget tissue ratios.  Studies are proposed to answer
questions concerning the dose of SA and time interval following the
injection of the primary antibody required to optimize tumor imaging.  For
all of these studies PA and SA fragments (F(Ab')2 and Fab') will be
evaluated in order to assess the role of the Fc portion of the IgG on the
clearance of the radiolabeled PA by the SA and as a means of directly
comparing the efficacy of tumor localizing PA fragments above to the SA
approach.

Our preliminary data have already suggested the SA approach using
anti-immunoglobulin antibody may be useful clinically for detecting tumors
by external imaging.  Thus, we propose in the latter portion of the second
year to initiate clinical trials using the conditions determined by
experimentation in the animal model.  In addition, we plan to investigate
whether radiolabeled SA administered after injection of radiolabeled PA can
amplify tumor radioactivity but still reduce the total blood pool
background.  Finally, we intend to study the influence of the SA on
suppressing anti-primary immunoglobulin antibody formation or if the
presence of circulating anti-primary immunoglobulin interferes with
radioimmunodetection of cancer.  Thus, the overall proposal will address
several topics that will refine our understanding of some of the factors
that influence the detection of tumors by radiolabeled antibody and
possible ways to improve this methodology.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3175832
- **Project number:** 5R01CA037895-03
- **Recipient organization:** CTR FOR MOLECULAR MEDICINE/IMMUNOLOGY
- **Principal Investigator:** Robert M Sharkey
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1988
- **Award amount:** $166,665
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1986-07-15 → 1989-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3175832

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3175832, IMPROVED CANCER IMAGING BY SECOND ANTIBODY (5R01CA037895-03). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3175832. Licensed CC0.

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