Isolation of metastatic B16 melanoma variants using anti-Met 72 monoclonal antibodies and flow cytometry.

Analysis of a number of B16 melanoma clones has revealed a high correlation between metastatic activity and the quantitative expression of a 72,000 dalton glycoprotein, Met 72. In the present study, metastatic tumor cell variants have been directly isolated from a heterogeneous, poorly metastatic melanoma (B16-F1) by anti-Met 72 monclonal antibodies and cell sorting procedures. These studies provide direct proof that Met-72 antigens are in fact surface markers of B16 melanoma metastatic variants and may provide the means of monitoring their presence, influence and autonomy during tumor progression.