New Immunologic Method for Detection of Occult Breast Cancer

摘要

The overall objective of this research proposal was to develop laboratory tests that are meaningful diagnostic/prognostic indicators for the physician's use in the battle against human breast cancer. We worked towards the establishment of sensitive immunologic assays, which could reliably detect and quantify antigen-specific IC in the sera of patients with breast cancer. Therefore, our objectives were to define breast tumor associated antigens to which patients respond immunologically, and develop human and marine monoclonal antibodies to these immunogenic breast cancer antigens. It was expected that human monoclonal antibodies would be used to increase the level of tumor- associated antigen (TAA)-specific IC in samples from breast cancer patients who might have no or low levels of anti-tumor antibodies, and thus no or low levels of TAA-specific IC. We also proposed to develop an IC detection assay that would be specific for tumor associated antigen.