Cell Surface Antigens from Human Breast Cancer Cells

ABSTRACT-Biochemical and immunologie studies on breast cancer with the use of cells from a human ductal cell carcinoma, BOT-2, were initiated. Antigens were extracted from the cells by mild sonication and purified by gel filtration chromatography. Only one of the three peaks from gel filtration chromatography reacted with antiserum prepared against whole BOT-2 cells. Analysis by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the BOT-2 cell extract revealed many protein bands, whereas analysis of the antibody-reactive peak after gel filtration chromatography re-vealed fewer protein bands. Immunologie tests to identify human serum antibodies agalnst BOT-2 cells or cell extracts were per-formed by fixed cell immunofluorescence, Iiving cell membrane immunofluorescence, and indirect hemagglutination. Depending on the test, the sera from women with diagnosed, untreated mammary cancer were positive in 45-80 % of the cases, wherea