The identification and development of specific monoclonal antibodies to squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract

We have developed specific monoclonal antibodies to immunogenic glycoproteins expressed selectively on the cell membrane of squamous cell malignancies. These proteins serve to act as tumor markers that characterize this malignancy; there has be no evidence of cross reactivity to normal epithelial cells. Analysis of patterns of expression reveals that those membrane proteins identified by monoclonals AD7 and 5C6 appear early in cellular transformation to malignancy. At such a time, immunohistochemical recognition is seen in the presence of genotypic alterations, yet phenotypic changes may not be apparent. Of additional interest is that these monoclonal antibodies exhibit strong ADCC allowing the tumor proteins to not only serve as a marker of malignancy but as a target for therapeutic destruction.