Human Tumor Antigens: Detection and Characterization with Monoclonal Antibodies

The development of a general procedure for the routine production of monoclonal antibodies (moAbs1) of defined specificity [1] opened up a new era in tumor immunology. It raised the possibility that answers to such basic questions as the existence of tumor-specific antigens in human cancer and whether patients are capable of mounting an immune response to their tumors would finally be answered. Moreover, the application of monoclonal antibodies in the diagnosis and therapy of cancer promises to give the clinician a powerful new approach to the treatment of malignancy. Although none of these goals has yet been achieved it is appropriate at this time to review progress in this area.