Antibodies to cell surface ligands such as EGFRvIII can be used to therapeutically
or diagnostically deliver a radiolabel to tumor cells with high selectivity. The
utility of radioconjugated internalizing antibodies is limited, however, by release
of the label and its reuptake into normal cells. The invention provides new technology
for radioconjugation of internalizing antibodies which reduces the release of label
and improves retention of radioconjugated antibodies in lysosomes, where radiation
is more effectively and selectively delivered to the nucleus of tumor cells.