Embryonic Antigen Expression on 2-Acetylaminofluorene Induced and Spontaneously Arising Rat Tumours

Abstract

Summary.-2-Acetylaminofluorene induced mammary and ear duct carcinomata and spontaneously arising mammary carcinomata and sarcomata were shown to express embryonic antigens at the cell surface by their reaction with serum from multiparous female rats. These observations with essentially non-immunogenic tumours are comparable with early findings showing that embryonic antigens are also expressed on aminoazo dye induced rat hepatomata, and sarcomata induced with 3-methylcholanthrene. Re-expression of embryonal components, therefore, may be a concomitant of neoplastic transformation.

In vitro sensitization to embryonic antigens

“…Carcinoembryonic antigen, associated primarily with gastrointestinal malignancies, and a-fetoprotein, associated with hepatocellular carcinomas, have been detected in human tumors (Baldwin, 1973). Many mouse, rat and guinea-pig tumors also possess antigens that are present on embryonic cells (Coggin et al, 1970;Borsos et al, 1973;Baldwin and Vose, 1974;Embleton and Heidelberger, 1975). Although the antigens that are common to both fetal and neoplastic cells have traditionally been referred to as embryonic, their exact nature is unknown (Alexander 1972;Baldwin, 1973).…”