Characterization of a novel monoclonal antibody raised against human hepatocellular carcinoma.

A monoclonal antibody (MAb) targeting human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been produced by immunizing BALC/c mice with HCC SMMC-7721 cells. Solid phase enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA) analysis showed that this mAb (mAb 95) was reactive with human HCC cell lines and tumor biopsies, but not tumors of other origin or normal tissues tested. Immuno-gold labeling and flow cytometry indicated that mAb 95 bound specifically to HCC cell membrane protein. Western blot analysis showed mAb 95 reacts only with HCC cell lysates, but not with 10 different human normal tissue lysates. The approximate molecular size of the reactive proteins were 40,000 and 60,000 daltons. The specificity of mAb 95 indicates it may be a potential candidate for a targeting agent in HCC immunotherapy or immunodetection.