[Immunomorphological (light and electron microscopic) diagnosis of human squamous cell cancer using monoclonal antibodies].

It is shown with fluorescent and peroxidase labels for antibodies that the antigen to which the monoclonal antibody A-6/2 is directed, is a marker for cells of the basal stratified epithelium (basal-cell antigen). This antigen persists in squamous cell carcinomas of various sites and degrees of differentiation, but does not occur in tumors of other origins. With electron immunocytochemistry, the antigen was found to be located in tonofilaments and desmosomes of human squamous cell carcinoma. The A-6/2 monoclonal and basal-cell antigen may be used when developing immunomorphologic (light- or electronmicroscopic) procedures for histogenetic diagnosis of these carcinomas.