Human Lung Cancer Monoclonal Antibodies

Two monoclonal antibodies (MHPC-1, MHPC-2) with high reactivity with human lung cancer were produced by immunizing mice with crude plasma membranes prepared from the human lung cancer xenografts (giant cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma). The antigenic determinants recognized by these antibodies were shown to be carbohydrate chains without terminal sialic acids. The reactivity of these antibodies was examined by inmmunohistochemical methods using Avidin-Biotin-Peroxidase Complex on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections of lung cancer and various normal tissues. MHPC-1 (1gM, κ) produced by immunizing mouse with giant cell carcinoma, bound mainly to human non-small cell lung cancer. It also reacted with restricted areas of some small cell lung cancer, but it did not react with typical oat cell type cells. MHPC-2 (1gM, κ) obtained by immunizing mouse with adenocarcinoma bound not only to non-small cell lung cancer but also to small cell lung cancer. The antigen of this antibody was detected in the pleural fluid of a patient with adenocarcinoma of the lung. These antibodies might be useful in serological and cytological diagnosis of cancer.