Monoclonal antibodies against metal chelates

DETAILED DESCRIPTION We claim: 1.
A monoclonal antibody which exhibits specificity for a complex comprising a chelating agent and a first metallic ion, the antibody having an association constant (K.
sub.
A) for the complex at least about ten times greater than the K.
sub.
A of the antibody for the chelating agent itself or its complex with any other metallic ion.
2.
A monoclonal antibody according to claim 1 wherein the metallic ion is a radionuclide.
3.
A monoclonal antibody according to claims 1 or 2 wherein the monoclonal antibody is a bifunctional antibody, one specificity of which is against the complex of chelating agent and first metallic ion and the second against an antigen other than said complex.
4.
A monoclonal antibody according to claim 3 wherein the second specificity is against a tumor associated antigen.
5.
A monoclonal antibody according to claim 4 wherein the first metallic ion is a radionuclide whose product of radioactive decay is a metallic ion of a different atomic number and the K.
sub.
A of the antibody with the complex of decay product and chelating agent is less than about 1.
times.
10.
sup.
7 M.
sup.
-1.
6.
A monoclonal antibody according to claim 5 wherein the K.
sub.
A of the antibody and the complex of the decay product and the chelating agent is less than about 1.
times.
10.
sup.
6 M.
sup.
-1.
7.
A process for the treatment of a tumor having an antigen associated therewith comprising administering to a subject a monoclonal antibody according to claim 4 and allowing the antibody to localize at the situs of the tumor and then adminstering to the subject a composition comprising the chelate complex comprising the chelating agent and the first metallic ion, the metallic ion being a radionuclide that decays by emission of an electron or an alpha-particle.
8.
A process according to claim 7 wherein the radionuclide is .
sup.
90 Y.
9.
A process according to claim 7 wherein the chelating agent is conjugated with a chemotherapeutic agent and the radionuclide decays to a product having a different atomic number and the K