A monoclonal antibody, NCRC‐11, raised to human breast carcinoma. 1. Production and immunohistological characterization

Abstract

The production of a mouse monoclonal IgM antibody, NCRC-11, raised against human breast carcinoma is described. It has been characterized immunohistologically. The antigen recognised has a wide but highly specific distribution in normal tissues, being virtually confined to the surface of certain epithelial cell types. It is found in some forms of epithelial metaplasia and most epithelial malignancies, particularly adenocarcinomas. The heterogeneity of staining in mammary carcinomas is outlined and is of particular interest. The immunohistological staining distribution of NCRC-11 is similar to other antibodies, including anti-epithelial membrane antigen, which were raised against human milk fat globule membrane. A competition experiment with some of these antibodies, using a flow cytofluorimeter, showed competition with one antibody, LICR LON/M8.

Polymorphic epithelial mucin from the sera of advanced breast cancer patients – isolation and partial characterisation

“…Monoclonal antibodies NCRC-I 1 monoclonal antibody (IgM) was raised against dissociated breast carcinoma cells as described in detail by Ellis et al (1984).…”

“…Proteolytic digestions using the proteases and conditions described in Table IV (Ellis et al, 1984). That the mucin was detectable in low levels in the pooled sera of normal individuals (Figure 2) In SDS polyacrylamide gels, PEM migrates as a series of bands differing slightly in electrophoretic mobility.…”

“…NCRC-l1 is a murine MAb (IgM) originally produced against metastatic breast carcinoma cells (Ellis et al, 1984). This antibody reacts with a variety of normal and malignant tissues of epithelial origin and immunocytochemical studies have shown that in malignant tissue there exists a direct relationship between the intensity of staining and patient survival (Ellis et al, 1985).…”

The prognostic value of immunoperoxidase staining with monoclonal antibodies NCRC-11 and 3E1.2 in breast cancer

“…This paper describes the investigation of the prognostic value of monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) NCRC-11 and 3E1.2 in 483 women with primary breast cancer. Both of these MoAbs are of the anti-Epithelial Membrane Antigen (EMA) type and their characterisations and clinical uses have been described elsewhere (Ellis et al, 1984(Ellis et al, , 1985Stacker et al, 1985Stacker et al, , 1988Stacker et al, , 1989. The synthesis of EMA by mammary acini and ducts is thought to be a specialised function and therefore tumours which contain EMA in abundance may be better differentiated and hence have a better prognosis than those in which it is less plentiful.…”

Genetic polymorphism of high molecular weight urinary glycoproteins: A comparative study in normal individuals and breast cancer patients

“…Whether this system is of any influence in other epithelial malignancies with which NCRC-1I antigens are associated, or whether this antigen system influences tumour progression in any way, remains to be determined. The finding that the degree of staining of primary breast tumours with the NCRC-1 antibody is associated with good prognosis (Ellis et al, 1984) still requires explanation, and the genetic polymorphism of the antigen involved is an additional factor to be considered in evaluating its prognostic capabilities.…”