Ovarian tumor antigens: a new potential for therapy.

A murine tumor-associated alpha-globulin was identified by immunofluorescence, cytotoxicity, and immunoelectrophoresis. The antiserum resulting from heterologous immunization with the segregated antigen was tolerated in multiple injections and was therapeutic; host cell participation by macrophages and lymphocytes led to the therapeutic result. Investigation of human ovarian carcinoma demonstrated an alpha-globulin which shares antigenic specificity with other tumor-associated antigens. The successful scanning of a tumor mass with a heterologous antibody directed against a tumor-associated antigen demonstrated the feasibility of applying these techniques to clinical cancer.