Human monoclonal antibodies directed against ovarian carcinoma

In order to obtain human monoclonal antibodies for immunodetection or treatment of ovarian carcinoma, we generated hybridomas by fusing peripheral blood lymphocytes of patients with ovarian carcinoma and the mouse myeloma cell line X63.Ag8.653. The patients were immunized prior to collection of peripheral blood lymphocytes with autologous tumor cells admixed with New Castle Disease Virus. Immunocytologic studies of hybridoma supernatant with tumor cells fixed with methanol and air-dried tumor cells indicated that all 14 antibodies reactive with tumor cells were directed against cytoplasmic or nuclear antigens. One hybridoma designated as 1B3 was very stable and secreted a specific IgM antibody. This cell line expanded in nude mice and the monoclonal antibody 1B3 was effectively purified from ascites or supernatant fluid. In experiments with tissue sections partly derived from the patient whose peripheral blood lymphocytes were used for fusion, biotinylated 1B3 recognized ovarian tumor cells. There was no significant cross-reaction against normal tissue from stomach, small intestine, colon, lung, kidney, endometrium, placenta, or lymph node. Mammary carcinoma preparations were also stained by 1B3 while normal breast tissue was negative.