Novel IgG to melanin shows promise for radioimmunotherapy of metastatic melanoma

Abstract

Despite several novel drugs for metastatic melanoma entering the market in the last few years, there is an enormous need for novel effective treatments that would not rely on patients’ specific genotypes, biochemical pathways, microbiomes or the variability of an individual’s immune system. Earlier we have conducted a successful Phase 1 Clinical trial in patients with metastatic melanoma of a murine antibody to melanin radiolabeled with beta emitter 188Rhenium (188Re). The trial demonstrated safety and was indicative of the efficacy of the approach targeting melanin with radiolabeled antibodies (1). However, the IgM isotype of that first generation antibody presented an impediment for its humanization and further clinical development. Recently, we have identified an 8C3 murine antibody to melanin of the IgG isotype which is amenable to humanization. The goal of this study was to evaluate the possibility of radiolabeling this new antibody with 188Re and alpha emitter 213Bismuth (213Bi) and to assess its potential as a radioimmunotherapy (RIT) reagent for metastatic melanomaJRC.G.I.5-Advanced Nuclear Knowledg