Solubilization and partial characterization of a tumor-associated transplantation antigen of the guinea pig L2C leukemia.

A tumor-associated transplantation antigen (TATA) from guinea pig L2C leukemia cells was solubilized by different methods. It was found that the 3 M KCl extraction yielded the most immunogenic TATA of L2C cells. Immunization of normal strain 2 guinea pigs with this extract in complete Freund's adjuvant gave complete protection against a subsequent challenge with tumor cells. Further fractionation of the KCl extract of L2C cells by Sephadex G-200 chromatography suggested that the immunogenic activity was present in the fraction containing materials with estimated m.w. of less than 20,000 daltons.