Doxorubicin (Dox) was conjugated via a dextran linker to the F(ab')2 fragment of monoclonal antibody (MAb) 1H10 which recognizes an antigen expressed on the surface of human cervical carcinoma cells and tissues. Drug-antibody conjugates (1H10-Dox) with a molar ratio of Dox to MAb ranging from 40:1 to 60:1 retained antigen-binding and pharmacological activities. Anti-tumor activity of the conjugate in vitro was evaluated by measuring inhibition of [5-3H]-uridine incorporation into cellular RNA. 1H10-Dox was found to be 30 times more toxic to cervical tumor cells than a control MAb-Dox conjugate and 150 times more potent than Dox coupled to dextran. In addition, 1H10-Dox was less toxic to antigen-negative cells in vitro, suggesting that 1H10-Dox killing of cervical carcinoma cells was antibody-mediated. 125I-labeled 1H10-Dox preferentially localized in solid human cervical carcinoma xenografts in athymic mice with tumor-to-blood ratios of 1H10-Dox reaching 17.9 after 24 hr and 32.8 after 48 hr. Treatment of athymic mice bearing human cervical tumors with 1H10-Dox resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of tumor growth. Multiple administrations of 1H10-Dox at a dose corresponding to 20 micrograms doxorubicin significantly suppressed the growth of human cervical tumors in nude mice without significant side effects (weight loss), and this suppression was antibody specific. Both i.p. and i.v. administration of 1H10-Dox were found to be equally effective. Our results suggest that 1H10-Dox may be useful for the treatment of human cervical carcinoma.