title: Clinical and immunological significance of human melanoma cytotoxic antibody.
abstract: The activity of a complement-dependent cytotoxic antibody in the sera of 21 melanoma patients was investigated using a microcytotoxicity assay. Heat-inactivated sera were caused to react against mechanically dispersed fresh tumor cells in the presence of exogenous blood group AB complement. Cytotoxicity was evaluated relative to pooled normal sera as a control. Sera were cytotoxic against autochthonous tumor cells in 9 of 10 patients with localized or regional melanoma and in 1 of 11 patients with disseminated metastases. Cytotoxicity of sera was unrelated to size of tumor burden. Six of 7 antibody-positive sera (autochthonous system) were noncytotoxic to between 2 and 7 different allogeneic melanoma tumor cell preparations. Immunological reactivity of the cytotoxic antibody-positive and -negative groups was similar with respect to their capacity to be sensitized to dinitrochlorobenzene, produce positive skin tests to microbial antigens, and produce antibodies to typhoid vaccination; serum immunoglobulins were comparable. These results support the reported findings of the presence of cytotoxic antibody in the sera of melanoma patients without disseminated metastases.
mesh_terms: D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm; D000937:Antigen-Antibody Reactions; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001500:BCG Vaccine; D002175:Candida / Q000276:immunology; D003165:Complement System Proteins; D003429:Cross Reactions; D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000032:analysis; D007167:Immunotherapy; D008545:Melanoma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D009109:Mumps virus / Q000276:immunology; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009578:Nitrobenzenes / Q000276:immunology; D012882:Skin Tests; D014374:Tuberculin Test; D014436:Typhoid-Paratyphoid Vaccines
chemical_list: D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001500:BCG Vaccine; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D009578:Nitrobenzenes; D014436:Typhoid-Paratyphoid Vaccines; D003165:Complement System Proteins