Classification of Anti-CEA Monoclonal Antibodies

Abstract A number of monoclonal antibodies with reactivity against carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA) have been obtained in 3 independent fusions of purified CEA-primed BALB/c spleen cells with NSI myeloma cells. They have been classified into 3 major groups according to their ELISA reactivity against CEA and NCA, and their immunohistological localisation in human colorectal carcinoma and normal spleen. One group contains those monoclonals [11-285-14)(IgG1), 11-357-5(IgG1) and 14-95-55(IgG2a)] that show no cross-reactivity with NCA nor with cells in the normal spleen. Competition analysis in ELISA assays has demonstrated that all 3 monoclonals recognise a different epitope on the CEA molecule.