Circulating tumor-associated antigen detected by the murine monoclonal antibody CF511 in human epithelial ovarian carcinoma.

The murine monoclonal antibody (Mab) to human common epithelial ovarian carcinoma, CF511, was generated by immunizing mice with human fetal tissue extract followed by a booster injection of ovarian cancer cells. Mab CF511 recognized the 600KD sialylated glycoprotein as being different from previously known tumor-associated marker antigens. Mab CF511 reacted with common epithelial ovarian carcinomas, and also reacted with breast and lung carcinoma. In normal tissue, Mab CF511 cross-reacted with the lungs, breast, thyroid, fallopian tubes and uterine endometrium. CF511 antigen was increased in sera of approximately 70% of the patients with common epithelial ovarian carcinoma. CF511 antigen levels in sera from patients with ovarian carcinoma corresponded to the clinical course. CF511 antigen was increased in only 3% of the 47 collections of sera from patients with benign gynecological diseases. These data suggests that CF511 antigen is a useful new ovarian tumor marker for the diagnosis and management of the disease.