Tumor-associated antigen in bovine and ovine lymphosarcoma

Specific tumor-associated antigens were found on the membrane and in the cytoplasm of lymph node cells and peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from cattle and sheep with lymphosarcoma by immunofluorescence tests. Materials from 15 cattle with the adult form of lymphosarcoma were examined. Cytoplasmic antigen was detected in fixed tumor cells from all 15 cases and in PBL from 9 cases tested. Membrane antigen was detected in living cells from 10 of the cases tested. In 3 calf-type cases, cytoplasmic antigen was found in a few (1 to 3%) of the tumor cells, while 1% of the cells from 2 thymic cases had cytoplasmic tumor antigen. In 15 cattle infected with bovine leukemia virus (BLV) but with no evidence of tumor, PBL from 3 cattle had the tumor-associated antigen in the cytoplasm. Negative results were obtained with similar tests done with 9 normal cattle that had no detectable BLV or BLV antibody. Cells from tumors induced with BLV in 5 sheep also had cytoplasmic antigen and membrane tumor-associated antigen. Tumor-associated antigen was found in PBL from 1 or 7 BLV-infected sheep with no clinical evidence of tumor. Similar tests were negative on 4 normal sheep.