Resection guided by antibodies (REGAJ) a reappraisal after 10 years

Between 1986 and 1990 50 patients with ovarian cancer were submitted to a procedure which we called REGAJ-resection guided by antibodies. Using the radiolabelled murine monoclonal antibody OC 125, microscopic ovarian tumors producing CA 125 were detected during second-look surgery by a hand-held probe. Retrospective analysis after 10 years revealed that this procedure resulted in the cure of 4 of 11 patients, who would otherwise have been considered tumor free during second-look surgery and not further treated. Previous problems associated with the method can now be solved so that the clinical value of the procedure should be reconsidered.