A low pH enzyme linked immunoassay using two monoclonal antibodies for the serological detection and monitoring of breast cancer

Abstract

A new, simple and sensitive low pH ELISA method has been developed to measure serum levels of tumour associated antigens detectable by monoclonal antibodies HMFG1 and HMFG2. We examined sera from healthy controls, patients with neoplastic and non-neoplastic conditions of breast, liver and gastrointestinal tract. The majority of patients with metastatic breast cancer had elevated serum antigens (69% HMFG1, 72% HMFG2) compared to healthy controls (6.3% HMFG1, 3.0% HMFG2) or patients with benign breast disease (17% HMFG1, 4% HMFG2). There was no discrimination using these assays between patients with neoplastic and non-neoplastic conditions of liver and gastrointestinal tract. This new method promises to be of value in the assessment and management of patients with breast cancer.