Evidence for fetal antigen in human sarcoma.

A common antigen (S(2)), initially thought to be uniquely associated with human sarcomas, has been found to be widely distributed in patients with other tumors as well. Absorption studies with human embryonic tissues suggest that S(2) may be a fetal antigen. The presence of antibody to S(2) in patients with tumors and in their relatives implies a propensity in these individuals for cellular dedifferentiation which may be a prerequisite for malignant transformation.