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Optimization of Monoclonal Antibody Delivery via the Lymphatics:The Dose Dependence

Laboratory of Mathematical Biology [M. A. S., D. G. C., O. D. H., J. N. W.], and Office of the Director, Division of Cancer Etiology [R. J. P., S. M. S.], National Cancer Institute, and Department of Nuclear Medicine, Clinical Center [A. M. K.], NIH, Bethesda, Maryland 20892

After interstitial injection in mice, antibody molecules enter local lymphatic vessels, flow with the lymph to regional lymph nodes, and bind to target antigens there. Compared with i.v. administration, delivery via the lymphatics provides a more efficient means for localizing antibody in lymph nodes. An IgG2a (36-7-5) directed against the murine class I major histocompatibility antigen H-2K^k has proved useful for studying the pharmacology of lymphatic delivery. The antibody specifically binds to most cells in K^k-positive strains of mice and to none in K^k-negative mice. At very low doses, most of the antibody remains at the injection site in K^k-positive animals. As the dose is progressively increased, most effective labeling occurs first in nodes proximal to the injection site and then in the next group of nodes along the lymphatic chain. At higher doses, antibody overflows the lymphatic system and enters the blood-stream via the thoracic duct and other lymphatic-venous connections. Once in the blood, antibody is rapidly cleared, apparently by binding to K^k-bearing cells. These findings indicate that the single-pass distribution of monoclonal antibodies in the lymphatics can be strongly dose dependent, a principle which may be of clinical significance in the improvement of immunolymphoscintigraphic imaging, especially with antibodies directed against normal and malignant lymphoid cells. Monoclonal antibodies directed against normal cell types in the lymph node may be useful for assessing the integrity of lymphatic chains by immunolymphoscintigraphy or, more speculatively, for altering the status of regional immune function. The results presented here indicate that a low or intermediate antibody dose may optimize the signal:noise ratio for imaging.

In K^k-negative animals, the percentage of dose taken up in the major organs was essentially independent of the dose administered; there was no evidence for saturable sites of nonspecific binding. These findings provide background for attempts to use antitumor antibodies via the lymphatic route. Specific binding to target cells (and any cross-reaction with normal tissues) would presumably be superimposed on the nonspecific pharmacology of the antibody in vivo.

¹ Present address: Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140.

Received 10/25/85. Accepted 12/30/85.