The experimental study on the radioimmunotherapy of the nasopharyngeal carcinoma overexpressing HER2/neu in nude mice model with intratumoral injection of 188Re-herceptin

The therapeutic efficacy of radioimmunotherapy (RIT) of 188Re-labeled herceptin, which is a humanized anti-p185-HER2/neu monoclonal antibody (mAb), was studied. The nude mice bearing nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) expressing HER2/neu protooncogene were injected with 188Re-herceptin intratumorally and intravenously. The biodistribution was observed on day 2 (n=3). The tumor growth inhibition rate (IR) was determined by measurement of tumor volume. In the intratumorally treated mice, tumor uptake of 188Re-herceptin was significantly greater than in the intravenously treated mice [11.53% injected dose (ID)/g vs. 2.79% ID/g at 48 h], and lower normal organ uptake was also seen. The intratumoral administration of 188Re-herceptin caused greater inhibition of tumor growth at the fourth week as compared to the intravenous administration. It is concluded that intratumoral administration of 188Re-herceptin makes high level of radioactivity retained in tumor with significantly lower radioactivity retained in normal tissues, and provides a more effective regional therapy for NPC overexpressing HER2/neu.