Multifaceted evaluation of human tumor immunity using a salt extracted colon carcinoma antigen.

Abstract

Research during the past decade has indicated that most, if not all, human tumors possess tumor-associated antigens (1). This is based on in vivo and in vitro immunologic test systems which use intact tumor cells (2, 3), tumor cell homogenates (4) and subcellular fractions obtained by sonic disruption, enzyme digestion, and ultracentrifugation (5-7) as the source of antigen. There is also one report of a soluble tumor-associated antigen found in the fluid of a cystic melanoma (8).Ideally, the use of soluble tumor antigens will not only eliminate a number of technical difficulties entailed in preserving and storing tumor cells, but will also enable the investigator to study patients sequentially in relation to their response to treatment. This soluble antigen, if shown to be tumor specific and immunogenic, may also be useful for specific immunotherapy. Recent success in salt extraction of soluble HL-A antigens (9) has led investigators to apply similar methods to the extraction of tumor-associated antigen ...