DIAGNOSIS OF PANCREATIC-CANCER BY PANCREATIC ONCOFETAL ANTIGEN (POA) IN PURE PANCREATIC-JUICE

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 28  (2) , 102-105
Abstract
Pancreatic oncofetal antigen (POA) was detected in the pure pancreatic juice by double immunodiffusion assay in a series of patients, using anti-POA prepared by immunizing rabbits with human fetal pancreas homogenate. The test was positive in as many as 72% of the patients with pancreatic cancer studied; whereas only < 10% of patients with other diseases or normal controls were positive for this antigen, suggesting a potential usefulness of the pure pancreatic juice assay for POA in the diagnosis of cancer of the pancreas. The POA was distinct from such oncofetal antigens as AFP (alpha-fetoprotein) and CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen), labile to heating at 85.degree. C, to show .beta.-mobility on immunoelectrophoresis and had a MW of approximately 37,000 as estimated by gel filtration chromatography.