ONCOFETAL ANTIGEN IN XIPHOPHORUS DETECTED BY MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODIES DIRECTED AGAINST MELANOMA-ASSOCIATED ANTIGENS

Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) directed against Xiphophorus melanoma cells were developed and tested by indirect immunofluorescence and immunoperoxidase staining for reactivity with a panel of 15 allogeneic tissues and 12 allogeneic cell lines. The reactivity of such MAbs was restricted to melanoma cells from tumor biopsies and melanoma‐derived cell lines. In addition, all embryonic cells of all histiotypes from developmental stages later than mid‐organogenesis and from corresponding short term in vitro cultures reacted with these MAbs. In contrast, normal tissues and organs from adult fish displayed no reactivity, thus implying that the melanomaassociated antigens detected by the MAbs described are oncofetal antigens. Copyright © 1990 Wiley‐Liss, Inc., A Wiley Company