Heterogeneity of a tumor antigen TA-4 of squamous cell carcinoma in relation to its appearance in the circulation.
The heterogeneity of a tumor antigen TA-4 of squamous cell carcinoma was studied by using isoelectric focusing (IEF). IEF of squamous cell carcinoma tissue of the uterine cervix showed 2 major peaks of TA-4 with pI values of 5.9 to 6.2 (acidic TA-4) and 6.3 to 6.6 (neutral TA-4). The non-malignant squamous epithelium of the uterine cervix showed a major TA-4 peak at pI 6.3 to 6.6 (neutral TA-4), while TA-4 in the blood of patients with squamous cell carcinoma was mainly eluted at pI 5.9 to 6.2 (acidic TA-4). These results indicated that acidic TA-4 is implicated in the appearance of this antigen in the circulation of patients with squamous cell carcinoma.
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000276:immunology*; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000276:immunology; D004848:Epithelium / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007525:Isoelectric Focusing; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; C036649:tumor antigen TA-4, human