Serological detection of a polyoma-tumor-associated membrane antigen.

Syngeneic antisera raised against three polyoma tumors, SEYF-a SESO and SEWE, of strain ABY, A and ASW origin, respectively, contain antibodies directed against multiple specificities. One specificity is cross-reactive for the three polyoma tumors, but appears to be absent from a large variety of other tumors tested. Other, more "public" antigens are shared with a variety of other tumors of viral or non-viral origin. Five different public specificities of this type have been demonstrated and to some extent defined. Since the SEWE ascites tumor, with the shortest passage history, is much less liable to induce antibodies against the public specificities than the long-passaged SEYF-a and SESO, it is likely that the corresponding antigenic determinants arise as a result of passenger virus pick-up during continued passage, or are due to secondary cytogenetic changes.