Monoclonal antibody recognizing a human neuroblastoma-associated antigen.

The derivation of an IgG1k monoclonal antibody (HSAN 1.2) recognizing a cell membrane determinant on human neuroblastoma cells is reported. The determinant was found on all 17 cultured human neuroblastoma cells that were tested, but the density of the antigen varied widely on different cell lines. The antibody also bound to fresh and cultured Wilm's tumor cells, retinoblastoma cells, and one of two Ewing's sarcoma cell lines tested, it did not bind to mouse neuroblastoma cells, normal fibroblasts, blood, or bone marrow. Tumor cells that did not stain with HSAN 1.2 included glioma, medulloblastoma, melanoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, mesenchymoma, leukemia, and lymphoma cells. The distribution of the HSAN 1.2 antigen in normal tissues was confined to brain and newborn kidney. As few as 0.1% tumor cells in bone marrow aspirates were detectable by fluorescein-conjugated HSAN 1.2 antibody and flow cytometry. This antibody should be useful for the discrimination of neuroblastoma from other pediatric malignancies, for the detection of tumor cells in metastatic sites such as bone marrow, and for selective removal of neuroblastoma cells from marrow harvested for autologous transplantation.