Isolation of tumor associated antigens from Lewis lung carcinoma by affinity chromatography on peanut agglutinin-agarose.

Receptors for peanut agglutinin (PNA) were isolated from Lewis lung carcinoma cells (3LL) by detergent solubilization and affinity chromatography on PNA-agarose. The isolated receptors showed heterogeneous yet distinct molecular species when they were analyzed by SDS gel electrophoresis. In vivo inoculation of the isolated receptors could induce potent cytotoxic effector cells against 3LL cells, which were detected by Winn's tumor neutralization assay. The PNA receptors were also effective in preventing the settlement of the intravenously injected 3LL tumors in the lung. These findings suggest that PNA receptors can be used for immunological therapy of certain cancers.