Using Antibodies to Find Breast Cancer
Author Information
Author(s): S.M. Allan, C. Dean, I. Fernando, S. Eccles, J. Styles, V.R. McCready, M. Baum, N. Sacks
Primary Institution: The Royal Marsden Hospital and Institute of Cancer Research
Hypothesis
The use of a highly specific antibody against a preselected target will improve the prospects for accurate localisation of tumour deposits by radioimmunolocalisation.
Conclusion
The study suggests that the antibody ICR12 can effectively localise breast cancer tumors that strongly express the c-erbB-2 antigen.
Supporting Evidence
- ICR12 showed four times greater tumour localisation compared to normal tissues.
- Two patients with strong antigen expression had excellent tumour localisation.
- Immunostaining of fine needle aspirates was used to select patients for the study.
Takeaway
Doctors are trying to use special antibodies to find breast cancer without surgery, and they found that one antibody worked really well in some patients.
Methodology
The study involved using a radiolabelled monoclonal antibody in a mouse model and then in eight patients to evaluate its effectiveness in localising breast cancer tumors.
Limitations
The study had a small sample size and some patients did not localise well due to low antigen expression or prior treatment.
Participant Demographics
Patients aged between 35-80 years with primary breast cancer.
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website