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A tumor‐associated antigen expressed in melanoma cells with lower malignant potential
Author(s) -
Suter L.,
Brüggen J.,
Bröcker E. B.,
Sorg C.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
international journal of cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.475
H-Index - 234
eISSN - 1097-0215
pISSN - 0020-7136
DOI - 10.1002/ijc.2910350615
Subject(s) - melanoma , malignancy , pathology , antigen , immunoperoxidase , medicine , metastasis , cell culture , cancer , cancer research , antibody , biology , monoclonal antibody , immunology , genetics
The antigen K‐1‐2, detectable by a MAb is found in nevi and melanomas. It is associated with melanoma cells of low invasive and metastatic potential as shown by immunoperoxidase studies with cell lines, biopsies and autopsies: K‐1‐2 occurs in melanoma cell line SK‐Mel 25, but not in cell line A‐375. A‐375 has a higher malignant potential than SK‐Mel 25 because, in contrast to SK‐Mel 25, it produces plasminogen activator and grows in nude mice. K‐1‐2 was frequently strongly expressed (≥ 50% cells positive) in flat (< 1.5 mm) and less frequently in medium and thick primary tumors. In thick primary melanomas K‐1‐2 positive cells were confined to the junctional zone or to marginal, flat areas of the tumor. Only rarely does K‐1‐2 occur in metastases. Strong expression of the K‐1‐2 antigen was found less often in primary melanomas, which develop early metastases, than in tumors that had not metastasized during an observation period of 18 months. In 5 patients with disseminated metastatic disease, metastases strongly expressing K‐1‐2 and those negative for this marker or containing only a minor percentage of K‐1‐2 positive cells were observed simultaneously or at different times. These findings suggest that a change from high malignancy to low malignancy—as observed in animal systems—may also occur in human melanoma.