Human melanoma associated antigens: a solid-phase assay for detection of specific antibody.

A solid-phase radioimmunometric binding assay is described utilizing 125I-labeled protein A for the detection of antibody to human melanoma associated antigens. The novel aspect of this assay is the use of chemically defined spent culture medium of melanoma cells at target antigens previously depleted of fibronectin by affinity chromatography. This makes it possible to screen for antibody in unabsorbed antiserum. Sensitivity, reproducibility and ease of performance of the assay are optimized by conjugating target antigens to a background of bovine serum albumin dried onto polyvinyl 96-well microtiter plates and cross-linked with glutaraldehyde. The use of an immobilized soluble antigen target derived from a large pool of spent culture medium facilitates direct interassay comparisons and permits extensive absorption analysis of antisera. The assay has considerable potential in screening for alloantibody and both poly- and monoclonal xeonoantibody to human melanoma associated antigens.