Antigens of human pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells defined by murine monoclonal antibodies.

We have elicited and characterized the serological specificity of five murine monoclonal antibodies (DU-PAN-1, 2, 3, 4, and 5) to a human pancreatic tumor cell line, HPAF. The antibodies are not detecting HLA-associated antigens since all of the monoclonals failed to react with human lymphoid and myeloid cell lines and uncultured cells. All of the monoclonals except DU-PAN-5 reacted with four of five pancreatic tumor cell lines and two of two uncultured pancreatic tumors. An immunoperoxidase technique was used to determine the presence of the antigens detected by the monoclonal antibodies in frozen sections of tumor and adult and fetal normal tissues. DU-PAN-1 antigen was detected on pancreatic tumors, and a transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder, but was detected on no other adult or fetal normal tissues including pancreas. One of the antigens (DU-PAN-2) defined by the monoclonals was present on pancreatic ductal epithelial cells and showed a restricted distribution on tumor cells from some other carcinoma patients and on cells from certain fetal tissues. DU-PAN-3 antigen was present on adult and fetal pancreatic cells and certain tumor cells but could not be detected on cells of other fetal or adult normal tissues. DU-PAN-4 and DU-PAN-5 antigens have a more widespread distribution on normal or tumor cell types.