Antigenic analysis between BCG and tumor cells by BCG-monoclonal antibodies.

Antigenic relation between Mycobacterium bovis strain BCG and experimental animal tumor cells was analyzed with BCG monoclonal antibodies (BCG-MoAbs). Four BCG-MoAbs of 602, 603, 609, and 612 were successfully established and applied for the antigenic analysis of Meth A, RL male 1, colon tumor 26 of mouse, and line 10 of guinea pig tumor. MoAb 602 showed broad reactivity against all types of tumor cells. BCG antigen(s) was clearly recognized as small granules on the tumor cell surface under the fluorescence microscope, indicating that the animal tumor cells shared the common antigen(s) with BCG.