An intraperitoneal xenograft tumor model was developed in the nude mouse to represent advanced colorectal disease in the human patient. Intraperitoneal (ip) and subcutaneous (sc) tumor xenografts were successfully localized by indium 111-labeled anti-carcinoembryonic antigen monoclonal antibodies (Indacea) administered intravenously (IV) or intraperitoneally (IP). In the sc model, tumor uptake (% injected dose per g of tumor tissue--%ID/g) was significantly improved at 72 hours postinjection when Indacea was administered IP (44.01 +/- 1.94 vs. 33.74 +/- 0.87, P less than 0.005). In the ip model, tumor uptake at 72 hours was improved with IP Indacea (28.23 +/- 5.42 vs. 19.36 +/- 5.50, P less than 0.01) and the tumor to blood ratio was significantly improved for IP Indacea (17.83 +/- 2.95 vs. 8.45 +/- 1.38, P less than 0.01). Tumor mass was not a contributing factor in these differences. This study demonstrates that ip xenografts can be successfully imaged using radiolabeled antibodies and that the IP route of administration results in better tumor uptake of the antibody in ip lesions.