A 94,000-dalton glycoprotein expressed by human melanoma and carcinoma cells.

The IgG2a monoclonal antibody (MoAb) 376.96S, secreted by a hybridoma derived from a mouse immunized with cultured human melanoma cells COLO 38, reacts with a single 94,000-dalton glycoprotein that is peripherally associated with the plasma cell membrane of cultured melanoma cells. Indirect immunofluorescence analysis with cryostat thin sections of human tissues showed that this antigen is absent from a large variety of normal tissues but is readily detectable on melanomas, nevi, and several different carcinomas. The MoAb 376.96S binds with cultured melanoma and carcinoma cell lines to a similar extent and can mediate both complement-dependent and cell-dependent lysis of these cells. The 94,000-dalton glycoprotein detected by MoAb 376.96S is distinct in its tissue distribution, antigenicity, and molecular profile from several structures previously identified with monoclonal antibodies that have similar molecular weights.