PURPOSE: To investigate whether F(ab')2-fragments of the monoclonal Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 Receptor (IGF-1R) antibody R1507 (F(ab')2-R1507) can successfully target IGF-1R in Ewing sarcomas (ES). MATERIALS AND METHODS: BALB/c nude mice were subcutaneously implanted with IGF-1R-expressing human ES xenografts (EW-5 and EW-8) which previously showed heterogeneous or no uptake of indium-111-labelled R1507 IgG ((111)In-R1507), respectively. Mice were injected with (111)In-F(ab')2-R1507 or (111)In-R1507 as a reference. Biodistribution and immuno-SPECT/computed tomography (CT) imaging studies were carried out 2, 4, 8 and 24h post-injection (p.i.) for (111)In-F(ab')2-R1507 and 24h p.i. for (111)In-R1507. RESULTS: Biodistribution studies showed specific accumulation of (111)In-F(ab')2-R1507 in EW-5 xenografts from t=2h p.i. onwards (3.6+/-0.2%ID/g at t=24h p.i.) and (111)In-F(ab')2-R1507 immuno-SPECT showed almost homogeneous intratumoural distribution at t=24h p.i. Tumour-to-blood ratios of (111)In-F(ab')2-R1507 were significantly higher than those of (111)In-R1507 at t=24h p.i. (2.4+/-0.4 versus 0.5+/-0.1, respectively; p