Immunoscintigraphy with super(131)I-labelled HMFG sub(2) and HMFG sub(1) F(ab') sub(2) in the pre-operative detection of clinical and subclinical lymph node metastases in breast cancer patients

Radiolabelled specific monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) HMFG sub(2) and HMFG sub(1) F(ab') sub(2) and non-specific 11.4.1 and 4C4 F(ab') sub(2) were injected into the webs between the 2nd and 3rd fingers of both hands in 31 patients with clinical diagnosis of breast cancer. The authors studied 10 patients with clinically obvious axillary lymph-node disease and 10 patients with clinically negative axilla using HMFG sub(2), 5 patients with clinically negative axilla using HMFG sub(1) F(ab') sub(2) and 6 patients with clinically positive axilla using non-specific 11.4.1 and 4C4 F(ab') sub(2) MAbs. The results indicate that this non-invasive approach can accurately detect metastatic involvement in the axillary lymph nodes and can be used for the diagnosis and staging of breast cancer.