Vitiligo is a disease in which melanocytes are selectively destroyed. The disease is thought to be an autoimmune process being there are antibodies to pigment cells in the sera of patients and animals with vitiligo. In the present study, sera from vitiligo patients were examined for reactivity with the human melanoma cell line, SK-Mel-28, by Western blot analysis of solubilized membrane antigens of these cells to identify the pigment cell antigens defined by antibodies in the patients with vitiligo. Antibody reactivity to human melanoma cells (SK-Mel-28) was investigated in 14 patients with vitiligo, and 16 with normal control individuals. Antibodies to the 116-113, 60, 40 KD antigens were associated with vitiligo being present in 79%, 86%, and 43% respectively of the patients with vitiligo, but in only 6%, 38% and 6% of the normal controls. In contrast, antibodies to the 160-155, 78 and 64 KD antigens were equally common in vitiligo and in normal individuals. The results suggest that autoreactivity to pigment cells occurs more commonly in patients with vitiligo than in the normal control and high autoreactivity to pigment cells in the vitiligo sera might be an impertinent epiphemenon to destroyed pigment cell.
Antibodies, Neoplasm/*blood ; Antigens, Neoplasm/immunology ; Autoantibodies/blood ; Blotting, Western ; Human ; Melanoma/*immunology ; Vitiligo/*immunology

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between tumor-associated carbohydrate antigen sTn and endometrial carcinoma, and to evaluate the diagnostic value of 2 test methods. METHODS: A total of 200 patients were enrolled, including 100 subjects with endometrial carcinoma, 42 healthy nonpregnant women, 15 pregnant women without complications, and 43 patients with benign gynecologic diseases. The serum sTn-antigen concentrations were determined by 2 test methods (3P9 combined with 4A6, and B72.3 combined with CC49). RESULTS: There was a significant difference in the value and the positive rate of sTn in the serum between the subjects and the contrasts (P<0.05). The sTn level in the pregnant women was high. The sTn level in the serum and its positive rate in endometrial carcinoma became higher with the clinical stage. 3P9 combined with 4A6 was better than B72.3 combined with CC49 in the detection of sTn in the serum as to sensitivity, specificity, positive-prediction, negative-prediction, and accuracy. CONCLUSION The sTn antigen may become a new serological marker for the diagnosis of endometrial carcinoma, but pregnant women should be excluded. 3P9 combined with 4A6 is better than B72.3 combined with CC49 in the detection of sTn in the serum.
Antibodies, Neoplasm ; blood ; Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate ; immunology ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; blood ; Case-Control Studies ; Endometrial Neoplasms ; blood ; diagnosis ; Female ; Humans

OBJECTIVEQuantitative study of the effect of anti-human VEGF mAb E11 to VEGF level in serum of nude mice transplanted buccal carcinoma.

METHODSE11 was administered into BALB/c nu/nu mice which were transplanted human buccal carcinoma. The saline was administrated as negative control. Mice were killed at 18 days. The VEGF level in serum of mice was determined by improved indirect ELISA.

RESULTSCompared with the VEGF level in serum of mice in saline group, it was dramatically decreased in E11 group. The VEGF level in serum of mice treated E11 by subcutaneous was lowest and only reached (1.17 +/- 0.13) microg/L.

CONCLUSIONIt demonstrated that the anti-human VEGF mAb could reduce the VEGF level in serum by binding VEGF, and block its biological activity. It indicates that VEGF in serum of malignant tumor patient is a new tumor marker.

Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; pharmacology ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; blood ; Carcinoma ; blood ; Humans ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Mouth Mucosa ; pathology ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Neoplasms ; blood ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; blood

Antibodies, Neoplasm ; blood ; immunology ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; pathology ; Cell Differentiation ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; Male ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; blood ; genetics ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate five serum tumor markers used alone or in combination for the diagnosis of lung cancer.

METHODSThe level of five serum tumor markers: NSE, pro-GRP, CYFRA21-1, p53 antibody and CEA was detected by ELISA in 50 healthy adults, 170 lung cancer patients and 60 patients with respiratory infection.

RESULTSThe level of the five serum tumor markers in lung cancer patients was significantly higher than that of healthy adults and patients with respiratory infection (P < 0.01). The level of NSE and pro-GRP in patients with small-cell lung cancer was significantly higher than those of the other subtypes of lung cancer (P < 0.01); The level of CYFRA21-1 in patients with squamous-cell carcinoma was significantly higher than that of other subtypes (P < 0.01). The specificity of p53 antibody was 100% in diagnosing lung cancer and the sensitivity of NSE, pro-GRP was much higher for small-cell lung cancer than for other subtypes (P < 0.01); The same was observed in CYFRA21-1 for the diagnosis of squamous-cell carcinoma (P < 0.01). The sensitivity of the tumor markers in diagnosing lung cancer was significantly enhanced if used in combination (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThese five tumor markers are valuable auxiliary parameters in diagnosing lung cancer. The combination of NSE and pro-GRP is more appropriate than other combinations in diagnosing small-cell lung cancer; the combination of CYFRA21-1, CEA and p53 antibody is the most valuable combination for diagnosing non-small-cell lung cancer. p53 antibody has the highest specificity for diagnosing lung cancer; CYFRA21-1 is the most valuable parameter for diagnosing squamous carcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma ; diagnosis ; Antibodies, Neoplasm ; blood ; Antigens, Neoplasm ; blood ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; blood ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; blood ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; diagnosis ; Female ; Gastrin-Releasing Peptide ; blood ; Humans ; Keratin-19 ; Keratins ; blood ; Lung Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase ; blood ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; immunology

All solid tumors require the induction of new blood vessel to grow. The neovascularization of tumor tissue(angiogenesis) is considered essential for tumor growth, proliferation and eventually metastasis. Recent reports have demonstrated that the intensity of tumor angiogenesis in prostate and other tumors may be of prognostic value. We analyzed the prognostic significance of microvessel quantitation in bladder carcinoma. Microvessels were identified by immunohistochemistry using antibodies to endothelial marker, factor VIII-related antigen. The three most vascular area within a tumor were selected, and the microvessels within a x200 microscopic field of each area were counted by an investigator. The significant relationship was observed between microvessel counts and recurrence rate in 17 patients with superficial bladder cancer. Microvessel counts correlated with stage, grade, lymph node and distant metastasis, and 2 year disease free survival rate in 28 patients with invasive bladder cancer. In 15 patients with invasive cancer who were not showed distant metastasis, tumors from patients who experienced distant metastasis had higher microvessel counts than did tumors from patients who were disease- free(75.7118.59 and 61.7517.78), these values were not significantly different(p=0.081). These findings suggest that assessment of angiogenesis by microvessel quantitation may be a valuable method to predict metastatic potential of tumors, survival and the candidates for adjuvant therapy in patients with invasive bladder cancer.
Antibodies ; Blood Vessels ; Disease-Free Survival ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lymph Nodes ; Microvessels ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prostate ; Recurrence ; Research Personnel ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms* ; Urinary Bladder* ; von Willebrand Factor

Anti-f(ce) has been associated with hemolytic transfusion reaction (HTR) and hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN), however, anti-Cs(a) has not been associated with red blood cell (RBC) destruction. Although anti-Cs(a) has clinical insignificance as a high-titer low-avidity (HTLA) antibody, this antibody can cause confusion in interpreting an antibody identification test, particularly coexistence of a clinically significant antibody. A 65-year-old woman with liver metastases of Klatskin tumors and cholangitis was admitted to the hospital for abdominal pain. She developed hematochezia on hospital day 10. She was at the status of active bleeding and required transfusion. The result of antibody identification test was warm-reactive autoantibody and unidentifiable alloantibody, therefore, the least incompatible packed RBCs had to be transfused to the patient. No hemolytic transfusion reaction occurred and hemoglobin level was normalized. Thereafter, anti-f(ce) and anti-Cs(a) antibodies were identified in the patient's serum. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of anti-f and anti-Cs(a) antibodies in Korea.
Abdominal Pain ; Aged ; Antibodies* ; Blood Group Incompatibility ; Cholangitis ; Erythrocytes ; Female ; Fetus ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Klatskin's Tumor ; Korea ; Liver ; Neoplasm Metastasis

OBJECTIVETo establish an implanted model of human colonic carcinoma on chick embryo, and to study the effects of anti-angiopoietin-2 antibody on its vascularization.

METHODSThe human colonic adenocarcinoma cell line HT-29 was transplanted on the chick embryo's chorioallantoic membrane(CAM), and the angiogenesis characteristics were observed by stero-microscope, light microscope and immunohistochemistry. Furthermore, the effects of anti-angiopoietin-2 antibody on angiogenesis and tumor growth were also investigated.

RESULTSThree to seven days after HT-29 cell line was implanted into CAM, tumors grew rapidly and new blood vessels grew toward tumors. Five days after anti-angiopoietin-2 antibody was given, the number of blood vessels in anti-angiopoietin-2 antibody group was significantly down-regulated than that in tumor control group observed by stero-microscope (37.2+/-4.6 vs 56.8+/-7.4, P<0.01), but was up-regulated than that in normal control group (37.2+/-4.6 vs 9.6+/-2.4, P<0.01). Microvessel density(MVD) in anti-angiopoietin-2 antibody group was much lower than that in tumor control group by histological examination (9.6+/-2.4 vs 20.2+/-5.8, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONAngiopoietin-2 antibody is able to inhibit the angiogenesis induced by colorectal cancer cell line HT-29 obviously. The anti-angiopoietin-2 antibody may be potentially useful for clinical treatment of colonic carcinoma.

Angiopoietin-2 ; immunology ; Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; pharmacology ; Chick Embryo ; Colonic Neoplasms ; blood supply ; HT29 Cells ; drug effects ; Humans ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Neovascularization, Pathologic

Antibodies, Monoclonal ; metabolism ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived ; Antigens, CD34 ; metabolism ; Blood Vessels ; immunology ; pathology ; Breast Neoplasms ; immunology ; pathology ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; immunology ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; methods ; Lymphatic Vessels ; immunology ; pathology ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Stomach Neoplasms ; immunology ; pathology

BACKGROUNDWe have previously developed and characterized a monoclonal anti-idiotype antibody, designated 6B11, which mimics an ovarian carcinoma associated antigen OC166 - 9 and whose corresponding monoclonal antibody is COC166 - 9 (Ab1). In this study, we evaluate the humoral immune responses induced by the fusion protein 6B11 single-chain variable fragment (scFv)/human granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (hGM-CSF) and 6B11scFv in BALB/c mice.

METHODSThe fusion protein 6B11scFv/hGM-CSF was constructed by fusing a recombinant single-chain variable fragment of 6B11scFv to GM-CSF. BALB/c mice were administrated by 6B11scFv/hGM-CSF and 6B11scFv, respectively.

RESULTSThe fusion protein 6B11scFv/hGM-CSF retained binding to the anti-mouse F (ab) 2' and was also biologically active as measured by proliferation of human GM-CSF dependent cell TF1 in vitro. After immunization with the 6B11scFv/hGM-CSF and 6B11ScFv, BALB/c mice showed significantly enhanced Ab3 antibody responses to 6B11scFv/hGM-CSF compared with the 6B11scFv alone. The level of Ab3 was the highest after the first week and maintained for five weeks after the last immunization. Another booster was given when the Ab3 titer descended, and it would reach to the high level in a week.

CONCLUSIONThe fusion protein 6B11scFv/hGM-CSF can induce humoral immunity against ovarian carcinoma in vivo. We also provide the theoretical foundation for the application of the fusion protein 6B11scFv/hGM-CSF for active immunotherapy of ovarian cancer.

Animals ; Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic ; immunology ; Antibodies, Neoplasm ; blood ; Cancer Vaccines ; immunology ; Female ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Immunization ; Immunoglobulin Fragments ; immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; immunology ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; immunology