Characteristics of tumor associated antigens in squamous cell carcinoma.

For centuries physicians have been intrigued by the variable biologic behavior of cancer in humans. In recent years, attention has focused upon the host immune response as an indicator of patient prognosis and for potential use in tumor detection. In this study, tumor associated antigens were extracted from fresh squamous cell carcinoma and their biologic properties were characterized. Using the Leukocyte Migration Inhibition (LMI) assay, considerable sharing of antigenic determinates was noted among the 12 carcinomas and 18 patients studied, though none cross-reacted with each of the others which were studied. Immune assays using pooled tumor extracts successfully differentiated between tumor patients and control subjects, though further development will be necessary before small aggregates of tumor may be consistently detected.