USE OF MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODIES IN COLORECTAL-CANCER - A REVIEW

This is a review article covering the development of monoclonal antibo dies attached to a radioactive isotope which are used in scanning for metastatic adenocarcinoma of the colon. The most recent and complete s tudy described 223 patients, of which 169 were evaluated. All patients required an operation. Ar operation, biopsies were taken of the resec ted tumor. Some false negative areas, such as dilated varicosities and inflammatory areas, were encountered. The latter can be seen as a chr onic inflammatory process such as a leaking anastomosis with a diverti culum or old traumas in the pelvis. This technique allows a physician to follow patients, especially those who have had an abdominal perinea l or exoneration of their pelvic organs, for possible recurrence in th is area. There is also some discussion about possible future uses in t he treatment of the metastatic disease.