Cellular localization of immunoglobulin within human malignant melanomata

Abstract

Summary.-The presence of antibody in patients with malignant melanoma is well established if one examines the serum. In this report we have attempted to identify antibody within solid tumours showing that they are rarely present in any appreciable quantity on the surface of tumour cells but can be seen frequently on a number of different types of host cell within the tumours. This is discussed in the light of the role of antibody in the circulation and the possibility of antibody behaving as a blocking factor in vivo.

Prognostic significance of expression of antigens on melanoma cells

“…In addition when repeat studies were possible on tumour cells that had been cultured for several weeks the antigens detected in most instances were the same as those detected at the time of the initial study. Previous studies in which immunofluorescent techniques were used [10] also failed to detect significant amounts of IgG antibody bound in vivo to turnout cells.…”