Generation and characterization of human monoclonal antibody HMD4 against ovarian carcinoma and the study of radioimmunoimaging in nude mice.

Lymphocytes from regional lymph nodes of patients with ovarian carcinoma were immortalized by fusing them with a nonsecreting cell line of murine myeloma (Sp2/0-Ag14). By early cloning and recloning a hybrid cell line, named HMD4, was established. It has secreted human IgG for more than 15 months stably. Chromosome analysis corresponded with the characterization of human-mouse hybridoma. Large quantities of ascites were obtained after hybrid cells injection into the primed nude mice. Human IgG of light chain was detected and purified from the ascites. Twenty-six of 43 (60.5%) epithelial ovarian cancers were positively stained with HMD4 by ABC immunoperoxidase methods while nonepithelial ovarian cancers and almost all benign tumors and normal tissues were negative. The molecular weight of the antigen recognized by HMD4 was 55KDa determined by Western blotting. 131I labeled HMD4 was administered intraperitoneally to nude mice bearing human ovarian epithelial adenocarcinoma; 131I labeled normal human IgG and normal murine IgG were used as controls. Measurements of T/NT and T/B ratios of 131I-HMD4 were done. Radioimaging showed HMD4 clearly localized on tumor regions at 48 and 72 hours and the biodistribution and metabolism of the labeled HMD4 corresponded with the images. The above results indicate that HMD4 was specific to ovarian carcinoma, a hopeful clue for clinical applications.