Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2018 Dec;61(12):637-643. 10.3342/kjorl-hns.2018.00696.

Radioimmunotherapy in Head and Neck Cancer

• Choi IJ

• KMID: 2430840
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3342/kjorl-hns.2018.00696

Abstract

Radioimmunotherapy (RIT) is a therapy that takes advantage of the "cross-fire" effect of emitted radiation by radionuclides conjugated to tumor-directed monoclonal antibodies (mAb) (including those fragments) or peptides. While RIT has been successfully employed for the treatment of lymphoma, mostly with radiolabeled antibodies against CD20 [⁹⁰yttrium (⁹⁰Y)-ibritumomab tiuxetan; Zevalin® and (131)iodine ((131)I)-tositumomab; Bexxar®], its use in solid tumors is more challenging, so far. Immuno-PET, a tool for tracking and quantification of mAbs with PET in vivo, is an exciting novel option to improve diagnostic imaging and guide mAbbased therapy. RIT in solid tumors including head and neck cancer may be an alternative treatment with advances in various biological, chemical, and treatment procedures, and it may help to reduce unnecessary exposure and enhance the therapeutic efficacy. Also, immuno-PET based on RIT might play an important role in cancer staging, in patients or targets selection of targeted therapeutics and in monitoring the response of targeted therapeutics as precision medicine. In this review, fundamentals of RIT/immune-PET and current knowledge of the preclinical/clinical trials in RIT for solid tumor including head and neck cancer are reviewed.

Keyword

Head and neck; Monoclonal antibody; Radioimmunotherapy; Radioisotope; Squamous cell carcinoma

MeSH Terms

Antibodies
Antibodies, Monoclonal
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell
Diagnostic Imaging
Head and Neck Neoplasms*
Head*
Humans
Lymphoma
Neoplasm Staging
Peptides
Precision Medicine
Radioimmunotherapy*
Radioisotopes
Antibodies
Antibodies, Monoclonal
Peptides
Radioisotopes