[Human monoclonal antibodies directed to lung cancer]

The need for efficient production of human monoclonal antibodies to tumor-associated antigens is increasing. A study of human monoclonal antibody 904F produced from the regional lymph nodes of a patient with squamous cell carcinoma of the lung was described. By immunohistological study, the 904F antibody has been found to be a new human monoclonal antibody which might be a candidate for clinical application. The second part of the study reports the successful production of human monoclonal antibodies directed to lung cancer by active in vivo immunization of a PBL-SCID mouse (a severe combined immunodeficient mouse grafted with human peripheral blood lymphocytes) with squamous carcinoma cells. These human monoclonal antibodies are promising for the detection and therapy of cancer.