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Summary Safety of administration of a vindesine (VDS)-anti-CEA conjugate and its ability to localise after radiolabelling were investigated in patients with advanced metastatic carcinoma (4 colorectal and 4 ovarian).

The anticancer alkaloid vindesine (VDS) was conjugated to four mouse monoclonal antibodies recognizing human tumor-associated antigens. The antibodies were 96.5 (antimelanoma, IgG2a); 791T/36 (antiosteogenic sarcoma, IgG2b); 11.285.14, and 14.95.55 (anticarcinoembryonic antigen, IgG1 and IgG2a respectively). Conjugates VDS-96.5 and VDS-791T/36 were tested in vitro and shown to be specifically cytotoxic for target cells expressing the appropriate antigen. The in vivo effects of the antibodies and conjugates were tested against human tumor xenografts in athymic or immunodeprived mice using multiple treatments. Conjugate VDS-96.5 retarded the initial growth of a melanoma xenograft, whereas free antibody was without effect. Similarly, VDS-791T/36 but not free antibody retarded the growth of osteogenic sarcoma 791T. The most marked antitumor effects observed were those obtained with VDS conjugates of the anti-CEA antibodies against a colorectal tumor xenograft. Antibody 14.95.55 suppressed tumor growth both alone and as a VDS conjugate, whereas 11.285.14 produced only a slight effect alone but an almost complete and lasting suppression of tumor growth as a VDS conjugate. Free VDS had little effect at nontoxic levels. Acute studies showed that VDS-11.285.14 conjugate was considerably less toxic than free VDS in Balb/c mice.

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