Demonstration of a phase (stage)-specific embryonic brain antigen in human meningioma.

The water-soluble antigens of human embryonic brain were studied using a rabbit antiserum to human 8- to 10-week embryonic brain (non-absorbed and absorbed with extracts of human embryonic and adult organs). A phase (stage)-specific brain antigen(s) characteristic for the human 8- to 10-week-old embryo was detected by double immunodiffusion and immunoelectrophoresis in agarose gel. The testing of this anti-embryonic brain serum against saline extracts of human brain tumours (meningiomas, glioblastomas, astrocytomas, neurinomas and brain metastasis of carcinoma) revealed the presence of an "embryonic" antigen in the human meningioma only. Immunochemically this meningioma-associated antigen is identical to a phase (stage)-specific antigen of the 8- to 10-week embryo.