Human Cancer Antigen Research Articles

Expression of herpesvirus-induced antigens in human cervical cancer.

Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV2) was first associated with human cervical cancer by seroepidemiologic studies over 10 years ago, but there has been no clearcut evidence confirming or refuting the role of the virus in this cancer. Expression of HSV antigens in cells transformed in vitro by the virus has been reported by several groups1,2. Evidence for the association of HSV antigens with human cervical cancer has recently been reviewed3–5; general antisera prepared against HSV virions or structural proteins were used by several groups to screen cells derived from the cancer and equivocal results were obtained. The tumour-specific antigens associated with three known oncogenic DNA viruses—adenovirus type 2, SV40, and Epstein–Barr herpesvirus—are DNA-binding proteins5–8. Therefore, proteins which bind DNA were isolated9,10 from HEp-2 cells infected by HSV2, and monospecific antisera to two of these proteins (ICSP11/12 and ICSP 34/35) were prepared. These rabbit antisera react specifically with the nuclei of HSV2-infected cells11. We show here that an HSV2-specific DNA-binding antigen was expressed in 38% of tissues with pathological findings of severe dysplasia or carcinoma. This therefore constitutes further evidence for HSV2 as a factor in human cervical carcinoma.

How to characterize human cancer antigens.

How to characterize human cancer antigens.

Cytotoxicity with antibody-glucose oxidase conjugates specific for a human colonic cancer and carcinoembryonic antigen.

AbstractRabbit or goat antibodies to a human colonic cancer cell line (HT‐29) and to carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) were studied with respect to their ability to cause complement‐mediated and enzyme‐mediated cytotoxicity. IgG fractions of normal sera and antisera to CEA and HT‐29 were prepared and conjugated to glucose oxidase, an enzyme which permits specific iodination of cell membranes in the presence of glucose, iodide, and lactoperoxidase. Cytotoxicity was evaluated with several established tumor‐cell lines in vitro by measuring the uptake of 125 I‐iododeoxyuridine after 24 h in tissue culture. Specific iodination and cytotoxicity were observed with both enzyme‐antibody conjugates, but the enzyme‐antibody conjugate specific for CEA was much less effective than that for HT‐29. Complement‐mediated cytotoxicity was obtained with both antibodies, but with anti‐CEA antibody effects were obtained only at high antibody concentrations. The attachment of enzyme to antibody produced manifold enhancement of the inherent cytotoxicity of the antibody.