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Tumor-reactive Human Immunoglobulin G Monoclonal Antibody from a Melanoma Patient¹

Departments of Microbiology and Medicine [J. K-M., M. S. M.], University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California 90033, and Department of Pathology [W. L. W.], Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27103

To study tumor-associated antigens that are immunogenic to humans, we have generated human monoclonal antibodies by fusing lymph node lymphocytes of a melanoma patient with a mouse myeloma cell line. We examined in detail the reactivity of one IgG antibody, termed 2-139-1. Immunostatining was performed with purified antibody conjugated to biotin. Binding was visualized by the avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex. With cultured cells, 2-139-1 stained 12 of 12 melanomas and 12 of 16 carcinomas. Reactivity was not detectable in seven neural crest tumors, six sarcomas, and 45 lymphomas and leukemias. This spectrum of reactivity was confirmed with sections of human tissues. The human monoclonal antibody 2-139-1 reacted against melanomas and not banal nevi. While the antibody reacted strongly to adenocarcinomas of the colon, prostate, rectum, and pancreas, it did not stain all the carcinomas tested. Furthermore, reactivity was not seen against sarcomas. Interestingly, 2-139-1 did not bind to the majority of the cells in normal tissues, including fetal tissues. The reactivity of 2-139-1 may be representative of the humoral immune response found in the regional lymph nodes of cancer patients. The distribution of this epitope in various tumors was fairly limited and appeared to be associated with malignant transformation.

¹ This work was supported by USPHS Grants CA 43220 and CA 36233 awarded by the National Cancer Institute, NIH, Department of Health and Human Services; by a grant from the Concern Foundation; and by gifts from Alan Gleitsman, the Morey and Claudia Mirkin Foundation, and Virginia L. Andleman. Portions of this work were presented and published as part of conference proceedings (2).

² To whom requests for reprints should be addressed.

Received 12/12/88. Revised 4/21/89. Accepted 5/ 1/89.