Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Serial studies of autologous antibody reactivity to squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

  • Original articles
  • Published:
Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

In previous studies we evaluated the incidence and specificity of autologous antibody reactivity against squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). We were able to demonstrate that autologous antibody reactivity is present in native sera but was usually of too low a titer to allow further analysis. Dissociation of immune complexes by acidification and ultrafiltration of serum augmented autologous antibody reactivity in nine out of nine autologous systems tested. Native antibody and antibody derived from immune complexes produced by the host and reactive with autologous tumor cells may be directed against physiologically relevant antigens. Therefore, correlations of antibody titers with clinical course may provide insight into the nature of the host response to cancer. In the present analysis, serological studies of six patients with SCCHN were performed with serum samples obtained over many months. Results of serial serological assays were correlated to tumor progression and clinical course. Fluctuations in autologous antibody reactivity were noted over time. In four cases, rises in autologous antibody titers preceded the clinical diagnosis of recurrence by several months. Drops in autologous antibody reactivity were noted in two cases following surgery or radiation therapy. In two cases of long-term survivors, no correlation between antibody reactivity and clinical course was noted. Specificity analysis of the six autologous systems demonstrated reactivity against autologous and allogeneic SCCHN as well as melanoma cell lines. These sera did not react with glioma, neuroblastoma, renal cell, breast, bladder and colon carcinoma cell lines nor with fetal calf serum, pooled lymphocytes, red blood cells and platelets. Autologous serial serological studies may provide a means by which to evaluate the host/tumor relationship in patients with SCCHN.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Baldwin RW, Robbins RA (1976) Factors interfering with immunological rejection of tumours. Br Med Bull 32: 118

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Carey TE (1982) Immunologic aspects of melanoma. CRC Crit Rev Clin Lab Sci 18: 141

    Google Scholar 

  3. Carey TE, Lloyd KO, Houghton AN, Oettgen HF, Old LJ (1979) AU cell-surface antigen of human malignant melanoma. Solubilization and partial characterization. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 76: 2898

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Carey TE, Kimmel KA, Schwartz DR, Richter DE, Baker SR, Krause CJ (1983) Antibodies to human squamous cell carcinoma. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 91: 482

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Carey TE, VanDyke DL, Worsham MJ, Bradford CR, Babu VR, Schwartz DR, Hsu S, Baker SR (1989) Characterization of laryngeal primary and metastatic squamous cell carcinoma cell lines UM-SCC-17A and 17B. Cancer Res 49: 6098

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Eskinazi DP, Molinaro GA, Abermayor E, Martin SE, Zighelboim J (1985) Monoclonal antibodies against squamous cell carcinoma. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol 60: 377

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Gupta RK, Silver HKB, Reisfeld RA, Morton DL (1979) Isolation and immunochemical characterization of antibodies from the sera of cancer patients which are reactive against human melanoma cell membranes by affinity chromatography. Cancer Res 39: 1683

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Hellstrom I, Horn D, Linsley P, Brown JP, Brankovan V, Hellstrom KE (1986) Monoclonal mouse antibodies raised against human lung carcinoma. Cancer Res 46: 3917

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Kimmel KA, Carey TE (1983) Altered expression in squamous cell carcinoma cells of an orientation restricted epithelial antigen detected by monoclonal antibody A9. Cancer Res 46: 3614

    Google Scholar 

  10. Kimmel KA, Carey TE, Judd WJ, McClatchey KD (1986) Monoclonal antibody G10 to a common antigen of human squamous cell carcinoma: Binding of the antibody to the H type 2 blood group determinant. J Natl Cancer Inst 76: 9

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Kirkwood JM, Vlock DR (1984) Augmentation of autologous antibody to human melanoma following acid dissociation and ultrafiltration of serum. Cancer Res 44: 4177

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Koprowski H, Steplewski Z, Herlyn D, Herlyn M (1978) Study of antibodies against human melanoma produced by somatic cell hybrids. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 75: 3405

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Krause CJ, Carey TE, Ott RW, Hubris C, McClatchey KD, Regezi JA (1981) Human squamous cell carcinoma. Establishment and characterization of new permanent cell lines. Arch Otolaryngol 107: 703

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Nepom JT, Hellstrom I, Hellstrom KE (1983) Suppressor mechanisms of tumor immunity. Experientia 39: 235

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Pfreundschuh M, Shiku H, Takahashi T, Ueda R, Ransohoff J, Oettgen HF, Old LJ (1978) Serological analysis of cell surface antigens of malignant human brain tumors. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 75: 5122

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Shiku H, Takahashi T, Oettgen HF, Old LJ (1976) Cell surface antigens of human malignant melanoma. II. Serological typing with immune adherence assays and definition of two new surface antigens. J Exp Med 144: 873

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Shiku H, Takahashi T, Carey TE et al. (1980) Definition of cell surface antigens in human malignant melanoma, astrocytoma and renal cancer by typing with autologous serum. In: Rosenberg SA (ed) Serological analysis of human cancer antigens. Academic Press, New York, p 305

    Google Scholar 

  18. Sjogren HO, Hellstrom I, Bansal SC, Hellstrom KE (1971) Suggestive evidence that the “blocking factor antibodies” of tumor-bearing individuals may be antigen-antibody complexes. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 68: 1372

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Vlock DR, Kirkwood JM (1985) Serial studies of autologous antibody reactivity to melanoma: relationship to clinical course and circulating immune complexes. J Clin Invest 76: 849

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Vlock DR, DerSimonian R, Kirkwood JM (1986) Prognostic role of antibody reactivity to melanoma. J Clin Invest 77: 1116

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Vlock DR, Scalise D, Meglin N, Kirkwood JM (1988) Isolation and partial characterization of melanoma-associated antigens identified by autologous antibody. J Clin Invest 81: 1746

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Vlock DR, Scalise D, Meglin N, Kirkwood JM, Ballou B (1988) Isolation and partial characterization of melanoma-associated-antigens identified by autologous antibody. J Clin Invest 81: 1746

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Vlock DR, Scalise D, Schwartz DR, Richter DE, Krause CJ, Baker SR, Carey TE (1989) Incidence of serum antibody reactivity to autologous head and neck cancer cell lines and augmentation of antibody reactivity following acid dissociation and ultrafiltration. Cancer Res 49: 1361

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Vlock DR, Scalise D, Schwartz DR, Richter DE, Krause CJ, Baker SR, Carey TE (1989) Incidence of serum antibody reactivity to autologous head and neck cancer cell lines and augmentation following acid dissociation and ultrafiltration. Cancer Res 49: 1361

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Medical Oncology, Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and the VA Medical Center, 15240, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Daniel R. Vlock, Beth Arnold & Jeannette Humpierres

  2. Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Michigan School of Medicine, 48109, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Donald R. Schwartz, Shan R. Baker, Charles J. Krause & Thomas E. Carey

  3. Department of Dermatology, The University of Michigan School of Medicine, 48109, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Neil Swanson

Authors
  1. Daniel R. Vlock
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Beth Arnold
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jeannette Humpierres
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Donald R. Schwartz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Shan R. Baker
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Charles J. Krause
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Neil Swanson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Thomas E. Carey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Vlock, D.R., Arnold, B., Humpierres, J. et al. Serial studies of autologous antibody reactivity to squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Cancer Immunol Immunother 34, 329–336 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01741554

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01741554

Key words

Search

Navigation