# NEUROBLASTOMA ANTIBODIES FOR DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT

> **NIH NIH R01** · MEMORIAL HOSPITAL FOR CANCER & ALLIED DI · 1987 · $118,065

## Abstract

Most patients with neuroblastoma have widespread disease which is incurable
by currently known methods.  New therapeutic directions are needed.  One
novel approach is high dose chemotherapy and radiotherapy followed by
autologous or allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.  Such pilot studies
are being carried out at Rainbow Babies and Childrens Hospital.

We have developed five monoclonal antibodies (Mab) against human
neuroblastoma (NB).  Four of them are specific for ganglioside GD2 and one
is specific for a neuro-ectodermal antigen NEA-1.  These Mab have unique
characteristics suitable for diagnostic and therapeutic applications.  They
include (1) the use of Mab to detect and remove NB cells in bone marrow
before reinfusion, (2) the selective delivery of sterilizing doses of
radiotherapy to NB in vivo.  Such applications of Mab are particularly
relevant for our autologous bone marrow transplantation program.

We propose to define the tumor antigen heterogeneity in fresh NB
specimens.  By using a panel of Mab, we will attempt to overcome such
heterogeneity in order to achieve 100% binding and tumor kill in the
presence of Mab and complement.  We will optimize complement dependent
cytotoxicity of NB cells in the bone marrow to determine the most efficient
and least toxic complement source.  The binding and cytotoxicity of
radiolabeled Mab to NB will be studied as the basis for in vivo Mab
targeted radiotherapy.

We will then attempt to treat human NB xenografted in nude mice using
non-radiolabeled Mab alone and in the presence of complement.  We will
optimize the localization of radiolabeled Mab in NB as an imaging tool and
as the groundwork for radiotherapy.  By combining a panel of specific Mab
in sequential treatments, we hope to achieve complete tumor sterilization
with minimal normal tissue toxicity.  Conjugates of Mab and metallic
radionuclides will be used to further improve radiation delivery for better
imaging and therapeutic results.

It is likely that conclusions based on these studies will also be
applicable to melanoma and osteogenic sarcoma.  Our novel immunization
schedule that has succeeded in producing these specific Mab may also be
useful for other human cancers.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3178166
- **Project number:** 7R01CA039320-03
- **Recipient organization:** MEMORIAL HOSPITAL FOR CANCER & ALLIED DI
- **Principal Investigator:** NAI-KONG V CHEUNG
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1987
- **Award amount:** $118,065
- **Award type:** 7
- **Project period:** 1987-04-01 → 1988-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3178166

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3178166, NEUROBLASTOMA ANTIBODIES FOR DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT (7R01CA039320-03). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-24 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3178166. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*