title: [Basis for a specific-active immunotherapy in malignant melanoma].
abstract: Since Morton demonstrated in 1968 that malignant melanoma is antigenic, many immunologists have taken an interest in this disease. A basis for specific active immunotherapy has been worked out at Duke University Medical Center, Durham, N.C. (USA). A female chimpanzee was hyperimmunized with melanoma cells grown in tissue culture. After appropriate absorptions the xeno-antiserum was tested by indirect immunofluorescence. Apart from unspecific activities in the serum detectable against normal human fetal and adult fibroblasts as well as other non-melanotic human tumors, following further absorptions with these cells a melanoma-specific antigen could be demonstrated on the surfaces of melanoma cells. The melanoma-specific tumor-associated antigens were further evaluated by direct and indirect immunoautoradiography. These studies suggest that there are indeed cross-reacting specific tumor-associated antigens on the cell surface of melanoma cells. At DUMC melanoma patients have therefore been hyperimmunized with melanoma cells + BCG. Clinical experience is discussed.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis*; D001345:Autoradiography; D001500:BCG Vaccine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007106:Immune Sera; D007114:Immunization; D007167:Immunotherapy; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D002679:Pan troglodytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D001500:BCG Vaccine; D007106:Immune Sera
vernacular_title: Grundlagen für eine spezifisch-aktive Immuntherapie beim malignen Melanom.