ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the work performed in the models with different types of cancer. As a model for micrometastases, radioimmunotherapy (RAIT) studies with multicell spheroids have been performed with human neuroblastoma, colon cancer, and melanoma cell lines. The chapter describes the importance of animal testing for developing improved reagents for RAIT and discusses how the findings obtained in animal models can give insight to improving the clinical effectiveness of these reagents. Radiolabeled monoclonal antibodies have been used for studies in immunotherapy with tumor spheroids and tumor xenografts in experimental animals. Results indicate that the two most important factors for therapeutic efficacy in this model are good penetration of the radiolabeled antibody and an adequate radionuclide half-life to allow penetration of the immunoconjugate prior to significant radionuclide decay. There are a number of areas in which animal models are useful models for RAIT in patients, particularly for developing improved procedures for therapy.
