Summary Spheroids of a small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) cell line POC were used to evaluate the uptake and penetration of two antibodies recognising different SCLC antigens. Spheroids approximately 300-400 gm in diameter were incubated with 1 jig ml-"25I-labelled NY.3DI 1, an antibody which reacts with the cluster I group antigen (neural cell adhesion molecule; NCAM) and ['25I]SWAI 1, which binds to the cluster w4 antigen. The rate of uptake of both antibodies was similar; an initially rapid phase was seen during the first 8 h and maximum uptake occurred by 24 h. This increased to about 100 txm after 4 h incubation with I or 100 fig ml-' SWAI 1. The results with I lg mlh' NY.3D1 were similar, but in the presence of 100 jg ml-' NY.3DI I penetration into the spheroid was deep and diffuse. These results demonstrate a major concentration-dependent difference in the uptake and penetration of cluster I and cluster w4 antibodies in this spheroid model and they have implications for the selection of antibodies for targeted therapy of SCLC.