This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Bodurtha, A. J. Articles by Prehn, R. T. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Bodurtha, A. J. Articles by Prehn, R. T.

Clinical and Immunological Significance of Human Melanoma Cytotoxic Antibody¹

The Institute for Cancer Research, Fox Chase Center for Cancer and Medical Sciences, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19111

The activity of a complement-dependent cytotoxic antibody in the sera of 21 melanoma patients was investigated using a microcytotoxicity assay. Heat-inactivated sera were caused to react against mechanically dispersed fresh tumor cells in the presence of exogenous blood group AB complement. Cytotoxicity was evaluated relative to pooled normal sera as a control. Sera were cytotoxic against autochthonous tumor cells in 9 of 10 patients with localized or regional melanoma and in 1 of 11 patients with disseminated metastases. Cytotoxicity of sera was unrelated to size of tumor burden. Six of 7 antibody-positive sera (autochthonous system) were noncytotoxic to between 2 and 7 different allogeneic melanoma tumor cell preparations. Immunological reactivity of the cytotoxic antibody-positive and -negative groups was similar with respect to their capacity to be sensitized to dinitrochlorobenzene, produce positive skin tests to microbial antigens, and produce antibodies to typhoid vaccination; serum immunoglobulins were comparable. These results support the reported findings of the presence of a cytotoxic antibody in the sera of melanoma patients without disseminated metastases.

¹ Supported by USPHS Research Grants CA-08856, CA-13456, CA-05255, and CA-06927; NIH Grant RR-05539; and an appropriation from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. This paper was presented at 65th meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research in Houston, March 1974.

Received 4/30/74. Accepted 10/ 8/74.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C. C. Lee, M. B. Faries, L. A. Wanek, and D. L. Morton Improved Survival After Lymphadenectomy for Nodal Metastasis From an Unknown Primary Melanoma J. Clin. Oncol., February 1, 2008; 26(4): 535 - 541. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. C. Hsueh, R. Essner, L. J. Foshag, D. W. Ollila, G. Gammon, S. J. O'Day, P. D. Boasberg, S. L. Stern, X. Ye, and D. L. Morton Prolonged Survival After Complete Resection of Disseminated Melanoma and Active Immunotherapy With a Therapeutic Cancer Vaccine J. Clin. Oncol., December 1, 2002; 20(23): 4549 - 4554. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Cui and J.-C. Bystryn Melanoma and Vitiligo Are Associated With Antibody Responses to Similar Antigens on Pigment Cells Arch Dermatol, March 1, 1995; 131(3): 314 - 318. [Abstract] [PDF]