Biochemical and immunochemical analysis of a breast carcinoma associated antigen defined by the monoclonal antibody NCRC-11.
NCRC-11 is an anti-human breast carcinoma monoclonal antibody which defines a high molecular weight glycoprotein antigen (greater than 400 kD) and the expression of this antigen in breast carcinomas correlates with patient survival (Ellis et al.--Brit. Med. J., 290: 881-883, 1985). The antigen has been purified from detergent extracts of breast carcinomas by immunoadsorbent chromatography, and shown to be a wheat germ agglutinin-binding glycoprotein, which is susceptible to proteolysis with pepsin or papain although NCRC-11 antibody binding is unaffected by heat (100 degrees C for 5 min) or neuraminidase treatment. In addition to its presence in tumours, the NCRC-11 antigen is also a product of specialized normal epithelia (being particularly associated with luminal surfaces of secretory epithelia), although in healthy individuals it is not found in the circulation. However, in breast cancer patients, the breast tissue architecture is disrupted sufficiently by the developing tumour to allow products from the tumour to have access to the circulation. Thus, NCRC-11 antigens have been identified in breast cancer patients' serum both by immunoblotting techniques and by sandwich radioimmunoassay. The findings indicate that the NCRC-11 antigen has potential as a diagnostic and prognostic marker in breast cancer.
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology*; D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm / Q000276:immunology*; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*; D000939:Epitopes / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D000939:Epitopes