Background Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) such as DD3, raised against progastrin-releasing peptide((31-98)) (ProGRP((31-98))) antigen, have been used to target small cell lung cancer (SCLC). However, as an intact mAb, DD3, is cleared slowly from the body, with an optimal radioimmunoimaging time of 72 hours. More recently, a single-chain antibody fragment has demonstrated reduced excretion time in blood and normal tissues and is increasingly used in diagnostic cancer research. Thereby, it potentially increases the radioimmunoimaging efficacy. However, there have been few studies with this antibody fragment. The aim of this study was to characterize the preliminary radioimmunoimaging and biodistribution of I-131-anti-ProGRP((31-98)) scFv in nude mice bearing SCLC xenografts. Methods Anti-ProGRP((31-98)) scFv was used to detect ProGRP expression by flow cytometry analysis and immunohistochemistry. I-131-anti-ProGRP((31-98)) scFv was injected intravenously into healthy Kunming mice and the percentage injected dose per gram (%ID/g) in various organs was calculated. Similarly, the %ID/g and tumor/non-tumor ratio in xenograft-bearing mice was calculated. After injection of I-131-anti-ProGRP((31-98)) scFv, treated mice were imaged at 1, 24, and 30 hours. Then the tumor/base ratios were calculated. Results ProGRP was highly expressed in NCI-H446 cells and xenograft tissue. The metabolism of I-131-anti-ProGRP((31-98)) scFv in healthy mice was consistent with a first-order and two-compartment model; T-1/2 alpha and T-1/2 beta were 10.2 minutes and 5 hours 18 minutes, respectively. The %ID/g of I-131-anti-ProGRP((31-98)) scFv in xenografts was much higher than in healthy tissues at 12 hours after injection, reaching a maximum of (5.38 +/- 0.92) %ID/g at 24 hours. Successful imaging of xenograft tissue was achieved as early as 1 hour post-injection and persisted until 30 hours, with 24 hours proving optimal. Conclusion I-131-anti-ProGRP((31-98))scFv shows highly selective tumor uptake with low accumulation in normal tissues and rapid blood clearance, indicating that-it could be a promising agent for SCLC radioimmunoimaging.
