Seroepidemiology of Human Sarcoma Antigen (S1)

Yashar Hirshaut, Dawn T. Pei, Ralph C. Marcove, Bijay Mukherji, Arthur R. Spielvogel, Edward Essner

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22 Scopus citations

Abstract

A previously identified tumor-associated antigen of human sarcomas, S1 has been studied to characterize further its association with neoplasia. We used an immunofluorescence test on 166 serum specimens from normal persons and 295 from patients with neoplasia to determine the distribution of S1 antibody. The prevalence of antibody to S1 in the normal population varies considerably with age. Thirty-nine (91 per cent) of 43 persons between five and 20 years of age had serum antiS1 activity, whereas of 39 above the age of 41 only 13 (33 per cent) were similarly reactive. Neoplasia may induce the reappearance of S1 antibody. Significant antibody levels were found in more than 80 per cent of patients with carcinoma of the breast, lung and melanoma 41 years of age or older. An inverse relation of antibody prevalence to extent of disease was noted in persons with Hodgkin's disease. Available data suggest that S1 is a “heterophil” type of antigen. Although not tumor-specific, S1 may prove useful both for the detection of neoplasia and for the evaluation of response to anti-tumor therapy. EVIDENCE that RNA viruses of similar morphology and molecular structure are responsible for sarcomas in a wide variety of animal species 1 2 3 4 has prompted efforts in recent years to identify a related oncogenic agent in human materials. In 1968, Morton and his associates 5 reported that they had identified a common antigen in human sarcomas that they proposed to be of viral origin. Their observations led us to undertake a study in depth of the immune responses of patients with sarcomas to their tumors. To date, this effort has resulted in the detection of two sarcoma-related antigens in man, which have been.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1103-1107
Number of pages5
JournalNew England Journal of Medicine
Volume291
Issue number21
DOIs
StatePublished - 21 Nov 1974
Externally publishedYes

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