Evidence for a common tumour-associated antigen in extracts of human bronchogenic carcinoma

Xeno-antiserum specific for antigenic components of bronchogenic carcinoma was raised in rabbits, by passively immunizing them to normal human lung antigens at the same time as immunization with a tumour extract from a squamous-cell carcinoma. Antiserum so raised contained minimal quantities of anti-normal antibody which could be removed by a single absorption with glutaral-dehyde-insolubilized normal lung extract. When tested by quantitative complement fixation with a panel of tumour extracts from surgical specimens, it was found that the antiserum gave positive complement fixation with all squamous-cell carcinoma extracts tested, and with some of the extracts from bronchogenic carcinomas of differing pathological types. The antiserum was essentially negative for pooled extracts from normal lung, liver and spleen but gave a weak positive reaction with an extract of pooled foetal lung tissue.