title: Comparison of the techniques used for monitoring humoral immunity in cancer patients.
abstract: The humoral immune response to tumor-associated antigens (TAA) in cancer patients undergoing immunotherapy can vary considerably. This variability is inherent from patient to patient and is also dependent on the type of assay used to measure patient antibody response to tumors. In this investigation four serological techniques, complement-dependent antibody-mediated cytotoxicity, immune adherence, complement fixation, and indirect membrane immunofluorescence, were used to assess the humoral immune response in melanoma patients receiving specific immunization with cultured allogeneic melanoma cell vaccine. Two different patterns of antibody response were elicited. One was directed against TAA and oncofetal antigens (OFA) and the other was against HLA antigens. The sensitivity and reactivity varied among the different techniques suggesting that one test or technique may not be sufficient to evaluate critically a patient's response to immunotherapy.
mesh_terms: D000917:Antibody Formation; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000276:immunology*; D003168:Complement Fixation Tests; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007104:Immune Adherence Reaction; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007167:Immunotherapy; D008545:Melanoma / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D006680:HLA Antigens; C031192:oncofetal antigens