Monoclonal Antibodies (AE-1) Specific for Cytoskeletal Proteins useful for Tumor Diagnosis

Differential diagnosis of tumors can sometimes be difficult. For example, the histological appareance of thymoma (epithelial-derived) and histicytic lymphoma (mescenchyme-derived) can be similar. Since the mode of treatment and prognosis for these two types of tumors are significantly different, an accurate differential diagnosis of these tumors is essential. Description (Set) JHU scientists have recently developed three monoclonal antibodies designated (AE1, AE2 and AE3) to human epidermal keratins (Woodcock -Mitchell et al). These antibodies have been thoroughly characterized and were found to be highly specific for keratins. Immunoblot analysis showed that each antibody recognized a subset of epidermal keratins and in combination, the antibodies recognized all major keratins of human epidermis. We have utilized these antibodies to stain frozen sections of various normal and abnormal tissues and found that a mixture of AE1 and AE3 antibodies stained all epithelial tissues and tumors, with no staining in fibroblast, muscle, nerves, blood cells or any other non-epithelial cell types. The monoclonality of each hybridoma cell was established by three criteria : (1) each line was cloned at least 3 times; (2) each line produced only one extra light and one extra heavy chain when compared with those made by the parent myeloma cells and (3) antibodies produced by sister clones exhibited identical properties. These antibodies have been shown to be highly specific for keratins by immunoblot analysis and by immunofluorescense micorscopy. Proposed Use (Set) These antibodies are of potential interest to a large number of surgical pathologists to provide a diagnostic tool for establishing the epithelial nature of certian abnormal cell types, including carcinomas

Inventor(s): Sun, Tung-Tien

Type of Offer: Licensing



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