Detection of anti‐tumor antibody in virally induced tumors and its relationship to tumor growth

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The humoral antibody response to virally induced tumors in syngeneic hosts has been studied. The tumors include an SV40 tumor SVT2, the Friend virus‐induced leukemias FBL‐3 and FLC; and Moloney sarcoma virus‐induced tumors. It was found that anti‐tumor antibodies could be detected by the isotopic antiglobulin technique in these tumor systems at a relatively early stage of tumor growth. The kinetics of the antibody response in relation to the status of tumor growth varied between different tumors. In general, the antibody levels were higher in the hosts with progressive tumor growth than in the regressors or tumor‐free hosts. Reinoculation of tumor cells or recurrence of tumor growth produced elevation of antibody levels (secondary response). The specificity of the antibody reactions also varied in different tumor systems: some antibodies were truly tumor‐specific and thus might produce a biological effect on in vivo tumor immunity, whereas others were not. These studies indicated that a sensitive antibody assay could be used for early detection of tumor growth. However, its usefulness in evaluation of the status of tumor growth should be carefully studied in each tumor sys.