RADIOIMMUNODETECTION OF HUMAN LEUKEMIA WITH ANTI-INTERLEUKIN-2 RECEPTOR ANTIBODY IN SEVERE COMBINED IMMUNODEFICIENCY MICE

Anti-Tac monoclonal antibody recognizes human interleukin-2 receptor, which is overexpressed in leukemic cells of most adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) patients. To examine the potency of anti-Tac for targeting of A TL, biodistributions of intravenously administered I-125- and In-111-l abeled anti-Tac were examined in severe combined immunodeficiency (SCI D) mice inoculated with ATL cells. Significant amounts of radiolabeled anti-Tac were found in the spleen and thymus. The trafficking of ATL cells in SCID mice was detected using In-111-oxine-labeled ATL cells. These results were coincident with the histologically confirmed infilt ration of ATL cells. The radiolabeled anti-Tac seemed potent for targe ting of ATL.