Patent ID: 8529901

Claim:
A method for NIR fluorescence imaging of solid tumors during treatment with a non-labeled first antibody, said method comprising: a) providing to the patient a first dose with a second monoclonal antibody labeled with a NIR fluorescence label, specifically binding to the same tumor antigen as the first monoclonal antibody, wherein the first and second monoclonal antibody exhibit no cross reactivity, b) measuring the NIR fluorescence signal of said second monoclonal antibody labeled with a NIR fluorescence label in a region of the solid tumor, c) providing to the patient a first dose with said non-labeled first monoclonal antibody, d) providing to the patient a second dose with said second monoclonal antibody labeled with a NIR fluorescence label, and e) measuring the NIR fluorescence signal of said second monoclonal antibody labeled with a NIR fluorescence label in said region of the solid tumor and determining whether said signal has decreased compared to the signal measured under “b”; wherein if said signal measured in step “e” is decreased by at least 10%, then providing to the patient a second dose of said non-labeled first monoclonal antibody.