title: Development of new prostate specific monoclonal antibodies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite the need for new prostate-specific diagnostic and therapeutic targets, very few unique prostate (cancer) specific antigens have been characterized. Monoclonal antibody (mAb) technology is a powerful tool to identify specific antigenic markers, which could be potential targets for cancer diagnostics or therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Splenocytes from mice immunized with prostate cancer (PCa) homogenates of different origin were fused using standard techniques. Employing a differential high-throughput screening method followed by immediate screening in immunohistochemistry (IHC) a large number of hybridomas were screened for prostate (cancer) specificity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From 25 successful fusions approximately 300 clones were identified excreting PCa-reactive antibodies. Subsequent immunohistochemical fine-specificity analysis reduced this number to 26. Eventually, after extensive fine-specificity analysis, the number of mAbs appearing to define prostate-specific antigenic structures that might serve as new diagnostic or therapeutic targets was reduced to three.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Using mAb technology combined with a high throughput screening method we have developed three mAbs (1.8, 2.26, and 3.10) directed against prostate associated antigens that might identify potential new therapeutic targets.
authors.affiliation: Experimental Urology, Department of Urology, University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Lampe
authors.forename: J D M
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Molkenboer-Kuenen
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Oosterwijk
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003429:Cross Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006825:Hybridomas / Q000276:immunology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011467:Prostate / Q000276:immunology*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal