Immunoglobulins, complement and foreign antigens in human tumor cells

International Archives of Allergy and Applied Immunology
|January 1, 1976
PubMed

Fluorescein-labeled antibodies (FA) to human immunoglobulins, complement, fetal proteins and other antigens were used to search for these immunologic reactants in malignant and benign neoplasia as well as in control tissues. The FA reacted with five or more target antigens in 42 of 59 (70%) malignant tumors and 21 of 23 (40%) benign tumors. The remaining neoplasia and normal tissues showed positive staining with fewer than five specific antibodies. IgM, IgA, B1C, fetal proteins and HSV were the antigens found most frequently. This indicates that neoplasia exhibits immunologic activity more frequently than normal tissue.

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