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Based on the 170 um ISOPHOT Serendipity Survey (ISOSS) we have identified a
sample of 50 potential massive star-forming regions which are in an early
evolutionary phase. Follow-up observations in the submillimeter carried out with
SCUBA reveal massive cold cloud cores which are good candidates for massive
prestellar and protocluster cores. We present the 450um and 850um continuum
emission maps and have performed additional molecular line observations to
characterize the physical conditions in the unique ISOSS sample. Detailed
multi-wavelength studies of two regions, ISOSS 18364-0221 and 23053+5953 show
massive prestellar cores with dust temperatures down to ~12 K, indications for
collapse and molecular outflows. The comparison with recent results of
protocluster surveys places them at an extremely early evolutionary stage and
yields new constraints to the initial conditions of massive star formation.
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