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The prognosis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma still remains poor because of the lack of reliable diagnostic tests for early stages of the disease. Monoclonal antibody 17-1A (MoAb 17-1A) has been studied extensively, and the antigen recognized by MoAb 17-1A is expressed by adenocarcinomas of the pancreas and stomach, as well as other normal and malignant epithelial tissues. The potential of MoAb 17-1A was investigated for its ability to detect pancreatic carcinomas. The use of MoAb 17-1A in treatment also was studied.Immunoreactivity of MoAb 17-1A with human pancreatic carcinoma cell line HuP-T4 was examined histochemically by the avidin-biotinylated enzyme complex method. MoAb 17-1A was labeled with 125I by the Iodogen method and 111In using either diethylenetriaminepentaacetic anhydride (cDTPA) or 1-(p-benzyldiazonium) diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (aDTPA). After injection in nude mice bearing HuP-T4 xenografts, the biodistribution of 111In- and 125I-labeled MoAb 17-1A was examined at various time points.Positive staining of MoAb 17-1A was noted for HuP-T4 cells. A statistically significant (P0.01) greater tumor uptake was observed at 3 days after intravenous injection of 125I-labeled MoAb 17-1A when compared with 125I-labeled nonspecific immunoglobulin G. 125I- and 111In-labeled MoAb 17-1A was concentrated in HuP-T4 carcinoma 1.9-4.8 times higher than in the spleen, heart, liver, and pancreas.MoAb 17-1A was found to bind selectively to human pancreatic carcinoma HuP-T4. Tumor exhibited higher uptake of radiolabeled MoAb 17-1A compared with adjacent normal tissues. These results suggest that MoAb 17-1A may be applicable to the radioimmunodetection and radioimmunotherapy of pancreatic adenocarcinomas.