A pigmentation-associated, differentiation antigen of human melanoma defined by a precipitating antibody in human serum

Int J Cancer. 1983 Dec 15;32(6):717-21. doi: 10.1002/ijc.2910320610.

Abstract

Antibodies in the serum of melanoma patient AU precipitate an antigen from 125I-labelled extracts of cultured autologous melanoma cells. The antigen, which is probably not a cell surface component, is present in other pigmented melanomas but not in non-pigmented melanomas or other tumor cell types, and the amount of antigen is correlated with the degree of pigmentation. These conclusions are based on absorption experiments with 11 pigmented melanomas, 8 non-pigmented melanomas, 3 astrocytomas, 12 carcinomas of various histological types, I leukemia, 2 EB-virus-transformed B lymphocyte lines, and human erythrocytes. The antigen was also detected in cultured human melanocytes. It has a molecular weight of 70,000, an isoelectric point of pH 5.3, and it binds to concanavalin A-Sepharose. Ninety-six sera from other melanoma patients were examined and none of them precipitated this antigen. As described previously, the serum from patient AU also has antibodies to a unique (Class I) tumor antigen found only on AU melanoma cells. The pigmentation-associated, differentiation antigen and the unique antigen are clearly different in their distribution, but some relationship between these unusual antibody responses is possible.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Neoplasm / analysis*
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / analysis*
  • Astrocytoma / immunology
  • Carcinoma / immunology
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cell Line
  • Epitopes
  • Humans
  • Melanocytes / immunology*
  • Melanocytes / pathology
  • Melanoma / immunology*
  • Melanoma / pathology
  • Melanoma / physiopathology
  • Pigmentation*
  • Precipitin Tests

Substances

  • Antibodies, Neoplasm
  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • Epitopes