Extraction and partial purification of a CEA-like BCA from a pool of pre-selected breast carcinomas

By exploiting the cross-reaction among the antigens associated with a pool of breast carcinomas, preselected according to their antigenic content, a CEA-like BCA, with a specific activity of 1400 U/micrograms has been extracted, by means of 3M KCl, and partially purified by means of ConA Sepharose affinity chromatography and bioabsorption, employing, for the latter, a cross-reacting antiserum (anti CEA). The subsequent labelling, after Sephadex G-200 gel filtration, points out an immunological activity at the apex of the first peak versus anti CBC (or C.BCA) and anti CEA.