Monoclonal antibodies against ovarian carcinoma-associated antigens, raised by immunization with cyst fluids.

Intrasplenic immunization with ovarian tumour derived cyst fluids was used to generate monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) against human ovarian carcinomas. Seven Mabs were characterized immunocytochemically using indirect immunofluorescence assays (IFA) on frozen sections of gynaecologic tumours (n = 85), non-gynaecologic tumours (n = 50), normal human tissues (n = 66), and on 8 ovarian carcinoma cell lines. The Mabs reacted with 67-96% of 49 ovarian carcinoma tissues tested. Although 6 out of 7 Mabs showed slight cross reactivity with some endometrial, cervical, and oviductal carcinomas, little reactivity with non-gynaecologic tumours or normal tissues was found. Based on immunoelectronmicroscopy, all the antigenic determinants defined by the Mabs appeared to be associated with the tumour cell membrane. Among the seven Mabs, OV-TL 16 (IgG1 subclass) and OV-TL 23 (IgM class) reacted positively with 96% and 82% of the ovarian carcinomas respectively. Staining of 100% of the ovarian carcinomas examined (n = 49) could be achieved by combining OV-TL 16 with 23, as also by other combinations of the Mabs. It is concluded that a panel of these newly developed Mabs may be suitable for diagnostic purposes in histopathology.