Emerging trends for radioimmunotherapy in solid tumors

Cancer Biother Radiopharm. 2013 Nov;28(9):639-50. doi: 10.1089/cbr.2013.1523. Epub 2013 Jul 11.

Abstract

Due to its ability to target both known and occult lesions, radioimmunotherapy (RIT) is an attractive therapeutic modality for solid tumors. Poor tumor uptake and undesirable pharmacokinetics, however, have precluded the administration of radioimmunoconjugates at therapeutically relevant doses thereby limiting the clinical utility of RIT. In solid tumors, efficacy of RIT is further compromised by heterogeneities in blood flow, tumor stroma, expression of target antigens and radioresistance. As a result significant efforts have been invested toward developing strategies to overcome these impediments. Further, there is an emerging interest in exploiting short-range, high energy α-particle emitting radionuclides for the eradication of minimal residual and micrometastatic disease. As a result several modalities for localized therapy and models of minimal disease have been developed for preclinical evaluation. This review provides a brief update on the recent efforts toward improving the efficacy of RIT for solid tumors, and development of RIT strategies for minimal disease associated with solid tumors. Further, some of promising approaches to improve tumor targeting, which showed promise in the past, but have now been ignored are also discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Alpha Particles
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / administration & dosage
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Humans
  • Immunoconjugates / therapeutic use
  • Neoplasm, Residual
  • Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Peritoneum / radiation effects
  • Radioimmunotherapy / methods*
  • Radioimmunotherapy / trends*
  • Radioisotopes / therapeutic use
  • Radiopharmaceuticals / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Immunoconjugates
  • Radioisotopes
  • Radiopharmaceuticals