K20 and ICO-10 monoclonal antibodies (gp120/200; Thy-1): immunophenotyping of human solid tumours.

Solid tumour cells were shown to express VLA-beta and Thy-1 antigens. For identification of these molecules two monoclonal antibodies, K-20 and ICO-10, characterised in detail previously, were used. Four groups of solid tumours have been identified according to their immunophenotype: VLA-beta+ and Thy-1-; VLA-beta+ and Thy-1+; VLA-beta- and Thy-1+; VLA-beta- and Thy-1-. To a certain extent these groups have been shown to reflect tumour histogenesis: tumours of epithelial origin never expressed an ICO-10+, K20-phenotype while soft tissue sarcomas and neuroblastoma cells never expressed the beta-chain of VLA molecular complexes.