# CD8-Targeted PET Imaging of Tumor-Infiltrating T Cells in Patients with Cancer: A Phase I First-in-Humans Study of 89 Zr-Df-IAB22M2C, a Radiolabeled Anti-CD8 Minibody

Source: https://onco.cc/key-papers/paper-farwell-j-nucl-med/  
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## TL;DR

Paper cited by one idea page, indexed on Europe PMC as PubMed record 34413145 and published in Journal of Nuclear Medicine; the citing page links this DOI, which is how the record was matched.

## Summary

There is a need for in vivo diagnostic imaging probes that can noninvasively measure tumor-infiltrating CD8+ leukocytes. Such imaging probes could be used to predict early response to cancer immunotherapy, help select effective single or combination immunotherapies, and facilitate the development of new immunotherapies or immunotherapy combinations. This study was designed to optimize conditions for performing CD8 PET imaging with 89 Zr-Df-IAB22M2C and determine whether CD8 PET imaging could provide a safe and effective noninvasive method of visualizing the whole-body biodistribution of CD8+ leukocytes. Methods: We conducted a phase 1 first-in-humans PET imaging study using an anti-CD8 radiolabeled minibody, 89 Zr-Df-IAB22M2C, to detect whole-body and tumor CD8+ leukocyte distribution in patients with metastatic solid tumors. Patients received 111 MBq of 89 Zr-Df-IAB22M2C followed by serial PET scanning over 5-7 d. A 2-stage design included a dose-escalation phase and a dose-expansion phase. Biodistribution, radiation dosimetry, and semiquantitative evaluation of 89 Zr-Df-IAB22M2C uptake were performed in all patients. Results: Fifteen subjects with metastatic melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, and hepatocellular carcinoma were enrolled. No drug-related adverse events or abnormal laboratory results were noted except for a transient increase in antidrug antibodies in 1 subject. 89 Zr-Df-IAB22M2C accumulated in tumors and CD8-rich tissues (e.g., spleen, bone marrow, nodes), with maximum uptake at 24-48 h after injection and low background activity in CD8-poor tissues (e.g., muscle and lung). Radiotracer uptake in tumors was noted in 10 of 15 subjects, including 7 of 8 subjects on immunotherapy, 1 of 2 subjects on targeted therapy, and 2 of 5 treatment-naïve subjects. In 3 patients with advanced melanoma or hepatocellular carcinoma on immunotherapy, posttreatment CD8 PET/CT scans demonstrated increased 89 Zr-Df-IAB22M2C uptake in tumor lesions, which correlated with response. Conclusion: CD8 PET imaging with 89 Zr-Df-IAB22M2C is safe and has the potential to visualize the whole-body biodistribution of CD8+ leukocytes in tumors and reference tissues, and may predict early response to immunotherapy.

Indexed on Europe PMC as PubMed record 34413145 (DOI 10.2967/jnumed.121.262485). Matched by DOI alone: one idea page cites this DOI among its external links (the pages are listed under Related), and this page was written so that the citation resolves inside OnCo. No figure has been checked by an editor.

## Fields

- Kind: Key paper
- Last checked: 2026-09-22
- Tags: europepmc-ingest
- Journal: Journal of Nuclear Medicine
- Year: 2022
- DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.121.262485
- Authors: Farwell MD, Gamache RF, Babazada H, et al.
- What it means: One idea page on OnCo cites this paper by its DOI; this record gives the citation a page of its own so a reader can follow it without leaving OnCo. Read the abstract above alongside the citing page listed under Related; the record was created automatically from the Europe PMC entry and its figures have not been checked by hand.
- Caveats: Matched to the citing OnCo records by DOI alone; the summary reproduces the Europe PMC abstract and no figure has been verified against the full paper.

## Sources

- J Nucl Med 2022: https://doi.org/10.2967/jnumed.121.262485
- PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34413145/
- Europe PMC: https://europepmc.org/article/MED/34413145

## Connected records

- ideas: [CD8 PET to stop or switch immunotherapy early](https://onco.cc/ideas/idea-cd8-pet-io/)
- journals: [Journal of Nuclear Medicine](https://onco.cc/journals/journal-of-nuclear-medicine/)

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