Initial evaluation of (227)Th-p-benzyl-DOTA-rituximab for low-dose rate alpha-particle radioimmunotherapy.

Radioimmunotherapy has proven clinically effective in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Radioimmunotherapy trials have so far been performed with beta-emitting isotopes. In contrast to beta-emitters, the shorter range and high linear energy transfer (LET) of alpha particles allow for more efficient and selective killing of individually targeted tumor cells.