Human Cancer-Associated Antigens: Present Status and Implications for Immunodiagnosis

Autoantibodies to Ca2+ binding protein Calnuc is a potential marker in colon cancer detection

“…Since an increase in cancer antigens that occur temporarily with inflammation will not cause an increase in autoantibodies, the autoantibody detection can readily distinguish between cancer and inflammatory diseases (7). Another benefit of autoantibody in cancer detection is that a subtle biochemical change in a tumor cell might be able to produce a detectable level of autoantibodies before the emergence of the tumor phenotype and the released tumor antigens reaches a detectable level (8). A study on the comparison of the autoantibody-based enzyme immunoassay (EIA) to conventional antigen EIA kits stated that autoantibody EIA can significantly enhance the sensitivity and specificity of tumor markers (7).…”

Monoclonal Antibody B72.3 Reacts with a Core Region Structure of O-Linked Carbohydrates

“…Despite many attempts to identify human tumor-specific antigens with monoclonal an tibodies (moAbs), characterization of such antigens has not yet been achieved [1,2], Claims of tumor specificity have frequently not withstood extensive testing of normal cells and tissues. However, the B72.3 moAb, developed by Nuti et al [3], has been evalu ated extensively on sections of paraffin-em bedded normal and malignant tissues and appears to have a high degree of tumor spec ificity.…”

Evidence of Cross-Reactivity of ‘Carcinoma-Specific’ KC4 Monoclonal Antibody with Activated Mesothelial Cells and Phytohemagglutinin-Stimulated Lymphocytes

“…However, most if not all of the so-called 'carcinomaassociated' antibodies are not carcinoma-specific [Sulitzeanu, 1985] The membrane and the cyto plasm of the stimulated cells show reactivity with KC'4 (a), whereas the control antibody is negative (b).…”

“…Interpreting the data of the PH A experiments, KC4 rather appears to detect a proliferation antigen. Most antigens which are found to be carcinomaspecific are not isolated and the reactivity of benign tissues has not been sufficiently investigated [Sulitzeanu, 1985]. KC4 monoclonal antibody is found to react with almost all carcinomas and it should not react with corresponding benign tissue [Coulter, 1985].…”