Composition and production of pancreatic tumor related antigens.

Large numbers of specific and highly purified antibodies that react with tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) have been produced over the last decade as a result of the hybridoma technology that was developed during the previous decade. The availability of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) rapidly led to studies of their clinical applicability. It has recently become apparent that further characterization of TAAs at the molecular level is needed before the MAbs, which react with TAAs, can have extensive use in the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer. The information that is currently available concerning the molecular composition and production of pancreatic TAAs is summarized in this presentation.