Radioimmunodetection of head and neck cancer. A review

Radiolabeled antibodies can add a dimension in the diagnostic imaging and staging of metastatic head and neck malignancies. In the oral cavity, oropharynx and larynx the vast majority of malignancies are squamous cell carcinomas. This common cellular origin makes it feasible to search these neoplasms for appropriate tumor-associated antigens which can be used for radioimmunoscintigraphy. The pretherapeutic staging of head and neck malignancies, including salivary gland tumors, is based on clinical findings and conventional radiology (computerized tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasonography). The routine use of monoclonal antibodies for imaging head and neck malignancies was made possible by the production of several monoclonal antibodies to tumor-associated membrane antigens. A review of the clinical trials reported in the literature, and our own results with 111In-labeled anti-carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) antibody in 42 patients are presented.