Abstract
Squamous cell carcinomas represent the vast majority of all malignant tumors of head and neck. The treatment of locoregional recurrences and distant metastases is very often without success. The Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Free University Hospital, has focused upon the use of monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) in order to contribute to solve this problem. Mabs E 48 and U 36 were chosen after they have been shown to act strongly on squamous cell carcinomas, but minimally on normal tissue. In an animal model, clear tumor visualization and impressive tumor regression occurred when Man E 48 was linked to a suitable isotope. A diagnostic phase I/II study for the detection of lymph node metastases has entered 75 patients with head and neck cancer. Biodistribution data, acquired from surgical specimens, have shown an average tumor uptake of 30%/kg tumor tissue of the injected dose of Mab E 48. Extrapolation of data from therapeutic animal studies to these findings suggests that radioimmunotherapy can be effective in head and neck cancer patients, notably as adjuvant therapy in those with a high chance to developing distant metastases.
| Translated title of the contribution | Future role of monoclonal antibodies in the adjuvant therapy of head and neck carcinomas |
|---|---|
| Original language | German |
| Pages (from-to) | 1-6 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Oto-Rhino-Laryngologia Nova |
| Volume | 6 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Jan 1996 |