[Detection of surface antigens in uveal melanoma using monoclonal antibodies].

Monoclonal antibodies (MA) were obtained by fusion of a myeloma line from mice with spleen cells of mice previously immunized by live human cells of uveal melanoma of an epithelioid type (UMEL-H). From the cell fusion hybridomas were obtained which produced antibodies against immunized uveal melanoma cells. The binding capacity of MA was assessed by the sandwich radio-immuno (RIA) test using indirect immunofluorescence. Extensive specific tests revealed that MA are strongly bound to uveal melanoma, the cells of which were used to immunize the mice, but also fresh allogenic uveal melanoma cells UMEL-K which were also of the epithelioid type. A smaller binding activity was observed with the cell line of the uveal melanoma VUP-1 which was started 16 years ago and is formed by 92% by epithelioid cells. A smaller binding activity of MA was observed with the line of skin melanoma cells (HMB-2, B-HM8). The bond of MA with carcinomatous cells, fibroblasts, uveal and retinal cells from eyes of healthy humans was negative. The preliminary investigations indicate an antigenic homogeneity of tumour antigens of melanoma cells of the same histological type and the antigenic variability of uveal and skin melanomas.