Synthesis and evaluation of 177Lu-labeled anti-EGFR Fab antibody for lung cancer

Fab fragments obtained via enzymatic digestion of full-length antibodies or by gene recombination technology have smaller molecular weight and greater penetration ability. Those advantages make it uniquely suited to deliver radionuclides. In this study, we prepared a Fab fragment from the anti-EGFR antibody Cetuximab and labeled it with 177 Lu. The binding activity in vitro and biodistribution in vivo of [ 177 Lu]Lu-DOTA-Fab-Cetuximab were investigated. The [ 177 Lu]Lu-labeled Fab fragment showed improved tumor penetration and faster blood clearance compared to the full-length antibody.