Radioimmunodetection of melanoma: preliminary results of a prospective study

A prospective study to evaluate the clinical usefulness of radioimmunodetection of melanoma in clinical practice is ongoing at the National Cancer Institute of Milan, Italy. Technical conditions for the application of the method were previously reported. In this trial, 99mTc-labelled F(ab')2 fragments of the 225.28S monoclonal antibody were used against a high molecular weight melanoma associated antigen (HMW-MAA). Retrospective studies on radioimmunodetection of melanoma have already been made by our group and by other Centers in about 300 patients. This study concerns the evaluation of the regional extension of primary melanoma. 23 patients with 32 suspected lymphatic involvements of melanoma on the trunk and arms underwent immunoscintigraphy. No false positive results were observed; 3 false negatives, one corresponding to a micrometastasis, were noticed. Specificity corresponds to 100% and sensitivity to 78.6%.