Prolongation of survival of nude mice bearing human colon cancer. Treatment with yttrium 90-labeled anti-carcinoembryonic antigen antibody

D. M. Hyams, J. M. Esteban, B. G. Beatty, P. M. Wanek and J. D. Beatty
Department of General Oncologic Surgery, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, Calif 91010.

Nude mice bearing diffuse intraperitoneal carcinomatosis of the human colon cancer cell line LS174T were treated with an anti-carcinoembryonic antigen monoclonal antibody (MAB) that was labeled with yttrium 90 (90Y-ZCE025). Control animals were either untreated or treated with nonspecific 90Y-MAB (90Y-96.5c). The median survival (MS) for untreated animals was 26 days. The MS for specific and nonspecific therapy that consisted of 120 microCi of 90Y-MAB was 69 and 34 days, respectively. No significant improvement in the MS was observed with a second 120-microCi administration of 90Y-MAB given two weeks later. A decreased MS was observed with 80 microCi of 90Y-MAB given every four days for three cycles. In each category, specific therapy had a significant advantage over nonspecific therapy in increased effectiveness and decreased toxicity. The 90Y-ZCE025 therapy gave an increased life span of almost 200%. The therapeutic effects with different dosing regimens have important implications for treatment planning.