Do some malignant melanoma cells share antigens with the myeloid monocyte lineage?

Abstract

Melanoma cells freshly isolated from 63 advanced primary lesions and 103 metastases were analyzed by staining with monoclonal antibodies MEM 28 directed against a 200 kDa antigen present on all leukocytes and tissue macrophages (CD 45), MEM 18 directed against a monocyte antigen of 53 kDa, anti CD 14--Immunotech, Marseille and 3.9 directed against a 150 kDa antigen expressed on monocytes and to even greater degree on most tissue macrophages (CD 11 c). All antibodies showed variable reactivity with melanoma cells, percentage of positive tumor cells ranged from 0 to 70.