title: Human carcinoma-associated precursor antigens of the NM blood group system.
abstract: Blood group NM specificities occur in healthy, benign and carcinomatous breast glands and those of the gastrointestinal (G.I.) tract, but the precursors in their biosynthesis, T (Thomsen-Friedenreich) and Tn, are found in adenocarcinomata and not in benign or healthy tissues. T- and Tn-antigenic specificities are thus human carcinoma-associated. All humans possess anti-T and anti-Tn antibodies. Patients with breast or G.I. tract carcinoma show statistically significant alteration of anti-T titer levels when compared to patients with benign disease and to healthy controls. Breast carcinoma patients but not healthy people showed cellular immunity to T antigen in vitro and in vivo. Most striking was the delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction, which was positive in over 90% of ductal breast carcinoma patients tested and negative in all presumably healthy individuals. T antigen is readily prepared from healthy human red blood cells in uncontaminated form, and free of HL-A and Au antigens. T antigen and anti-T antibodies may be useful in combating some human adenocarcinomata.
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000097:blood; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D001789:Blood Group Antigens; D001941:Breast Diseases / Q000097:blood; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D002285:Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating / Q000097:blood; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000097:blood; D008951:MNSs Blood-Group System; D008875:Middle Aged; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D001789:Blood Group Antigens; D008951:MNSs Blood-Group System