| 1. |
- Evander, Magnus, 1959-
(författare)
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Detection of human papillomavirus : a study of normal cells, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and cancer of the uterine cervix
- 1991
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Human papillomavirus (HPV) infections of the genital tract are now recognized to be among the most prevalent sexually transmitted diseases and also a contributing factor to some cancers of the lower genital tract of women and men. Presence of HPV in a clinical specimen is confined to detection of the HPV genome by DNA hybridization techniques.In this thesis, the commonly used DNA hybridization techniques Southern blot and filter in situ hybridization (FISH), were first used for detection of genital HPV infection. In order to increase and simplify the detection of HPV in clinical specimens a more sensitive technique, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was subsequently utilized.For type-specific amplificaiton of HPV 6, 16, 18 and 33 by PCR, oligonucleotide primers located in the E6 and E7 regions of the HPV genome were selected. They were found to specifically amplify the four types. To be able to amplify a broad spectrum of genital HPV types, general primers located in the E7 and El region of the HPV genome, were designed and evaluated. They were found to amplify a wide range of genital HPV types. To further increase the sensitivity and specificity, a two-step PCR using general primers, was assembled and evaluated against a one-step PCR on cervical scrapes from young women in a population-based study. The two-step PCR increased the sensitivity about three-fold compared to the one-step PCR.By Southern blot and FISH, 46% of women with abnormal Papanicolaou (Pap) smears were shown to carry HPV DNA. Of the women analysed by Southern blot, 39 % harboured HPV DNA and 25 % proved HPV 16 positive. Of the samples analysed with FISH, 27 % contained HPV DNA, compared to 11 % of samples from a group of reference women with normal cytology. With the Southern blot technique, HPV DNA was detected in 66% of women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade III (CIN III) lesions. Fifty-four percent of the women with CIN III lesions were positive for HPV 16 DNA.By type-specific PCR, 12 out of 13 women with cervical squamous carcinoma were shown to carry HPV 16 and/or 18. Among women with adenosquamous carcinoma of the cervix, HPV 18 was the most prevalent type (26%) but HPV 16 was also found in a proportion of the women(15 %). Nine of 13 premenopausal cases with cervical adenocarcinoma were HPV positive compared to only 2 of 13 postmenopausal cases (p< 0.015). HPV 16 DNA was detected in 48%of women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), by the use of type-specific PCR.Three different groups of women with normal cytology were studied. Among women attending a family planning clinic in Kenya, 19% were shown to carry HPV virus, by the use of general primers. HPV 16 was found in 5.2% of these women and HPV 18 in 3.9%. In anothergroup of women, attending the gynecological department in Umeå, HPV 16 DNA was detected in 21 % by type-specific PCR. However, if consideration was taken to the medical status of the women, only 10% of women without any medical history were HPV 16 DNA positive, versus 54% of women with diseases and women with a relative progesterone dominance. Finally, by use of a two-step PCR using general primers, 20% of young women from Umeå taking part in a population-based study were demonstrated to carry HPV DNA. The most prevalent types were HPV 6 (2.0%) and HPV 16(2.7%). Among the women in this study with normal cytology, 19%were HPV positive.
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| 2. |
- Nilsson, Kenneth, 1948-
(författare)
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Radiation induced pneumonitis : clinical and experimental studies with special emphasis on the effect of smoking
- 1992
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is an established method providing diagnostic support and evaluation of disease activity in interstitial lung disease (ILD). The aims of the present investigation were 1) to study the inflammatory response in pneumonitis evoked by irradiation. 2) to evaluate how well lung tissue inflammation is reflected in BAL findings. 3) to study the effect of smoking on radiation-induced pneumonitis.BAL was performed in 21 patients (11 smokers, 10 non-smokers) who were treated for breast cancer, stage 1 (TjMaNq) by post-surgery irradiation to an accumulated target dose of 56 Gy. It was founa that irradiation induced an alveolitis in the non-smoking patient group while the smoking patients did not differ from their smoking controls. The alveolitis in non-smokers was characterized by an increase in lymphocytes, mast cells and elevated concentrations of hyaluronan (HA), and fibronectin (FN). Three of the non-smoking patients had chest X-ray infiltrates indicating the presence of pneumonitis.An animal experimental model for radiation-induced pneumonitis and fibrosis was established in rats, allowing comparative analysis of BAL fluid and morphology. In the rat model a divergence was noted between the differential cell counts in BAL and cells observed in the interstitial tissue, which was most notable for neutrophils (PMN) and mast cells whereas there was a good correlation between HA content in BAL and HA deposition in the lung tissue. A marked infiltration of intraseptally-located mast cells occurred during the pneumonitis-phase, and this increase was paralleled by a deposition of HA in the interstitial tissue. Histochemical fixation and staining properties of the mast cells revealed that the majority of these cells were of connective tissue mast cell type (CTMC). Compound 48/80, a mast cell secretagogue, significantly altered the HA content both in BAL and in lung tissue in the irradiated animals. Regular treatment throughout the whole experimental period induced depletion of mast cell granules and a decrease in HA deposition whereas 48/80 treatment during the pneumonitis phase enhanced HA deposition.A rat model with smoke exposure was developed, and the effect of cigarette smoke on radiation-induced inflammation was studied. Rats that smoked 3 weeks prior to irradiation and continued to smoke throughout the observation period (7 weeks) had a significantly reduced inflammatory response compared to irradiated non-smoking rats. The most prominent BAL findings in the smoke-exposed rats were a decrease in PMN, mast cells and a decrease in HA.In conclusion, irradiation induces an alveolitis characterized mainly by mononuclear cells. Mast cells seem to be of importance in the remodelling of the connective tissue in the radiation-induced inflammatory response. Hyaluronan is an important component in the early connective tissue response preceding later collagen deposition, and its interstitial deposition is very well reflected in BAL. Moreover, tobacco-smoke suppresses the radiation-induced inflammation with a decreased recruitment of effector cells including mast cells.
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| 3. |
- Andræ, Margareta, 1943-
(författare)
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Facing death : physicians' difficulties and coping strategies in cancer care
- 1994
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Even if the treatment of cancer has developed over the last decades 50% of the patients still die of their cancer. The doctor's way of dealing with his and his patient's anxiety must surely be of significance for the treatment the patient receives.In the first part of the thesis earlier studies of physicians' stress and ways of coping are reported. There is a lack of systematic studies which show how doctors working with cancer patients adjust to this work. The aim of this investigation is to study cancer doctors' difficulties and coping strategies. The theoretical frame of the study embraces parts of psychoanalytical theory and coping models, emphasizing that both unconscious and conscious psychological processes play their part in the coping process.The second, empirical part of the study includes 23 physicians strategically selected out of a population of physicians who work with institutional care and who have daily contact with adult cancer patients. The main method of data collection has been a series of recorded interviews. The focus of the interview was the physician's perception of how he reacts, thinks, talks and acts in different phases of the cancer disease. To illustrate the defence strategies of the interviewers, the projective percept-genetic test, the "Defence Mechanism Test" (DMT) is used. The "Structural Analysis of Social Behaviour" (SASB) has been used to study the doctors' self image.The results indicate that the stated difficulties deeply affect the doctor as a human being. The statements reflect conflicting feelings and wishes in relation to authority, conflicting feelings and wishes in relation to frightening and injuring, conflicting feelings and wishes in relation to intimacy/distance. Thirty themes of coping strategies frequently recur and they have been grouped into seven categories. Most of the doctors "seek knowledge" and support from scientific literature. The majority of them state that attempting to "solve a problem" is their main strategy. Most of the doctors "seek support " as a part of their coping strategy. An interesting observation is that the doctors to a higher extent "seek a relation" to their patients rather than to their colleagues. Almost one third use "denial of the severity of a situation" as their main strategy. All the doctors consciously or unconsciously use "diverting strategies", i.e. undertake tasks which are devoid of contact with patients, such as research and administration or other activities which allow them to avoid the patient. One third use "projective manoeuvres" but this is never a main strategy.In the third part of the study the credibility of the results and their pedagogical and practical implications are discussed.
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| 4. |
- Hallquist, Arne, 1948-
(författare)
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Thyroid cancer : studies on etiology and prognosis
- 1994
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Thyroid cancer constitutes about 1% of all malignant tumours and the incidence is increasing in Sweden. It is rare in children before the age of 10. During puberty the female to male ratio increases to be two to three times more common in females. The ratio remains constant until menopause and thereafter declines. The etiology of this gender-dependent incidence difference is unclear. Ionizing radiation is the only well-established risk factor for the disease, while the impact of other etiological factors is not clear.A retrospective study based upon medical records of 218 females and 91 males with papillary, mixed or follicular types of thyroid cancer was conducted. Prognostic factors were compared by multivariate analysis using Cox's semiparametric hazard model. Differences in prognosis between women and men were found. There was a higher relapse rate and mortality risk among men. Distant metastasis, age >50 years, regional lymph node metastasis, low or moderate differentiation, and tumour related symptoms at diagnosis were also independent factors related to increased tumour mortality risk.A population-based case-control study including 180 cases and 360 controls was carried out to identify risk factors for thyroid cancer. Information on exposure was obtained by mailed questionnaires. The first part of the study investigated connections between medical ionizing radiation and thyroid cancer. The results showed that diagnostic X rays were a significant risk factor for papillary thyroid cancer in women between 20 and 50 years at diagnosis. Exposure to iodine-131 caused no increased risk for thyroid cancer. The result supports that external radiotherapy is a risk factor for thyroid cancer in women.The second part of the case-control study dealt with occupation and different exposures. Work with diagnostic X-ray investigations and work as a lineman was associated with thyroid cancer. Exposure to impregnating agents increased the risk.The third part of this study showed that one pregnancy increased the risk for papillary thyroid cancer. A medical history of asthma or allergy decreased the risk.Another case-control study using medical records as the source for assessment of exposure gave a non significantly increased risk for thyroid cancer in patients who had been treated with external radiotherapy including the thyroid gland.
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| 5. |
- Boman, Karin, 1946-
(författare)
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Endometrial carcinoma : steroid hormones and receptors in relation to proliferation
- 1993
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The significance of the hormonal milieu for endometrial changes is as well-known as its link with endometrial carcinoma. Unopposed oestradiol treatment is shown to increase the incidence for this cancer. Obesity leads to elevated levels of oestrogens and is a risk factor for endometrial carcinoma. An association between high tumour proliferation and prognosis is a general feature of human cancer. Tumour growth can be expressed as proliferation rate and flow cytometry (FCM) is a sensitive and reproducable method to estimate S-phase fraction (SPF) and ploidy level. Both parameters have been shown to correlate with prognosis. Sex steroid hormone levels were analysed together with clinical parameters, SPF, and receptors in established endometrial carcinoma.The study consisted of postmenopausal women with endometrial adenocarcinoma. H ormones were analysed in 127 patients, 99 were analysed for FCM and 60 for oestrogen and progesterone receptors. RIA technique was used for hormone assay of oestrone, oestradiol, progesterone, androstenedione and testosterone plasma levels. The receptors were analysed with an immunohistochemical method, and SPF and ploidy level by flow cytometry.A wide range of oestrogen concentrations was found. Some patients had levels comparable to fertile women. Strong correlations were found between body mass index, weight and depth of uterine cavity. No relations were found between receptors and SPF, apart from oestrogen- receptor positive tumours having a lower SPF when compared with receptor negative tumours. The influence of oestradiol on tumour proliferation expressed as SPF was ambiguous. SPF was increased with higher oestradiol levels in the group of peri-diploid, well-differentiated tumours, while a negative correlation was found for the peri-diploid, moderately differentiated tumours. The aneuploid and poorly differentiated tumours had a high SPF regardless of oestradiol concentration. The association between progesterone concentration and SPF was of a more general nature. Progesterone above a threshold level was related to a lower SPF in well-differentiated and moderately differentiated tumours. Thus endogenous progesterone seems to play a role in controlling the tumour’s proliferation activity, in contrast to oestradiol, that had a role which did not appear to relate to proliferation activity in any specific direction. The only stimulative association was seen in well-differentiated tumours, but SPF was still below the mean value for all diploid tumours.
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| 6. |
- Arnerlöv, Conny, 1952-
(författare)
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Prediction of prognosis in human breast cancer : a study on clinicopathologic and cytometric prognostic factors
- 1991
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This study was undertaken to evaluate some important prognostic factors in human breast cancer. The prognostic value of accepted clinicopathological factors such as the presence of axillary lymph node métastasés, histologic grade, clinical and pathological stage was confirmed.In a cohort of stage T3,T4,M0 breast cancer with 91 patients (paper I) DNA ploidy by static cytometry (SCM) turned out to be the most important prognostic factor. In a cohort of stage T2,M0 breast cancer with 99 patients (paper III) the presence of involved axillary nodes and low histologic grade were independent prognostic factors. According to life-table analyses DNA ploidy by flow cytometty (FCM) and SCM were significant prognostic predictors for survival but S-phase fraction (SPF) was not. The significant discrimination between euploid and aneuploid tumours was seen also among the node-negative patients. In a patient material with 158 tumours of predominantly low stages (73% T0,T1, papers IV and V) and calculated mammographie tumour volume doubling time (DT) DNA ploidy by FCM gave no significant prognostic information. A computer program was used to calculate SPF from the histograms obtained by FCM. SPF with a cut-off value of 7.5% between tumours with high and low proliferation rate was a highly significant and independent prognostic factor for survival. The other independent prognostic predictors were low histologic grade, the presence of involved axillary nodes and stage II and III (versus stage I).DT values for 158 patients (papers IV and V) varied between 0.6 and 65.8 months (mean 10.9 months) and 11 tumours showed no growth at all between mammographies. The median value of 9.0 months was chosen as cut-off point between slow and fast growing tumours. The prognostic power of DT was however low, and the difference between slow and fast growing tumours was significant only for distant disease-free survival. Seventy-one of the 158 tumours were detected by mammographie screening. The screening detected carcinomas with predominantly long DT:s were discovered at an early stage and showed favourable characteristics concerning DNA ploidy and SPF.FCM was a rapid and reliable method for DNA analysis with a better prognostic discrimination between euploid and aneuploid groups than SCM (papers II and III).SPF, DNA ploidy and histologic grade are significantly correlated to one another but show no strong correlation to the presence of axillary lymph node métastasés. There is also a significant correlation between DT on one hand and DNA ploidy and SPF on the other hand.In conclusion the classic prognostic factors are still valuable. DNA ploidy as a single prognostic factor seems to have a relatively low prognostic power and seems to be of limited clinical value. SPF is a highly significant prognostic predictor for breast cancer of low stage, but the clinical value is not defined.
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| 7. |
- Baranov, Vladimir, et al.
(författare)
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Expression of carcinoembryonic antigen and nonspecific cross-reacting 50-kDa antigen in human normal and cancerous colon mucosa : comparative ultrastructural study with monoclonal antibodies
- 1994
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Ingår i: Cancer Research. - 0008-5472 .- 1538-7445. ; 54:12, s. 3305-3314
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The precise localization of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and non-specific cross-reacting 50-kDa antigen (NCA 50) in normal colon mucosa and colon adenocarcinoma was investigated by using an indirect immunoperoxidase electron microscopic technique with specific monoclonal antibodies. In normal adult colon both antigens were localized to microvesicles and filaments of the "fuzzy coat" on the apical surface of the epithelial cells. In addition, NCA 50 was found in the narrow spaces between adjoining microvilli. Mature columnar cells at the free luminal surface contained most of the antigen positive material. CEA and NCA 50 were also detected as intracellular components of goblet cells. In multilayered tumor glands, the cell surface expression of the antigens was dependent on the position of the tumor cell in the gland. The neoplastic cells showed either a predominant apical labeling or a positive staining of almost the entire cell surface. Some of the neoplastic cells contained CEA in so-called "intracellular lumina." In contrast to normal colon epithelial cells most tumor cells synthesized NCA 50 actively. In normal colonic mucosa, unlike in cancerous tissue, CEA and NCA 50 appear to be released via vesicles formed from the microvillous membrane of mature columnar cells. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that CEA and NCA play a role in the nonspecific defense against microorganisms in the large intestine.
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| 8. |
- Eriksson, Mikael, 1951-
(författare)
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Epidemiological studies on multiple myeloma
- 1992
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Multiple myeloma is a painful and uncurable malignant disease with an increasing incidence and mortality in several countries, e.g., Sweden. Some factors are suspected to be of aetiological significance, such as ionising radiation and chronic antigenic stimulation in certain inflammatory diseases. A familial factor has also been indicated. Furthermore, some studies have demonstrated farming as an occupation entailing an increased risk for the disease.The aim of this investigation was to further elucidate the impact of different aetiological factors in relation to multiple myeloma. The knowledge of aetiology is always a prerequisite for prevention.A case-control study on multiple myeloma was performed in a high-inddence area, the northern part of Sweden. One part of this study dealt with occupations and different exposures. The results supported farming as being an occupation with an increased risk. Within farming two kinds of pesticides, phenoxyacetic adds and DDT, and contact with certain domestic animals, i.e., cattle, horses and goats, were assodated with multiple myeloma.Farming as a risk factor was also confirmed by a register-based linkage study using the Swedish Cancer Environment Register. In this study a time trend was indicated, with increasing standardized inddence ratios over the different time periods studied.Another part of the case-control study showed that rheumatoid arthritis entailed an increased risk for multiple myeloma, a finding earlier suggested from register-based linkage studies, but not from any çase-control study.A third part of the case-control study indicated an increased risk for multiple myeloma if any first-degree relative had a history of haematological malignancy, or other malignant tumour, espedally prostatic cancer, brain tumour, and renal cancer.A case study encompassing 942 patients with haematological malignandes in the county of Jämtland, Sweden, during a 22-year period showed that about 5% of the patients had at least one relative who also suffered from such a disease. An espedally strong familial occurrence was found in the group of chronic lymphoprohferative diseases, including multiple myeloma.
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| 9. |
- Franzén, Lars, 1947-
(författare)
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Effects of fractionated irradiation on salivary glands
- 1992
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The thesis is a study of the effects of radiation on the salivary glands in an experimental and a clinical study. Irradiation is a cornerstone in the management of head and neck cancer and is as other modalities of cancer treatment, afflicted with adverse reactions. An optimal radiotherapy regime is limited by the sensitivity of the normal tissues with regard to early and late effects. In certain cases the early effects can be so troublesome that it will cause interruption in the irradiation and questioning of the curative intention. Although DNA is the lethal target, other parts of the cell have been proposed as sensitive targets to irradiation. Different in vitro secretory models and quantitative morphological characterization and immunohistochemical evaluation of neuropeptides were performed in rat salivary glands after irradiation. The irradiation was given unilaterally or bilaterally once a day for a five-day schedule with 6 MV photons (total dose 20, 30, 35, 40, 45 Gy) or a two fractions regime in five days with a total dose of 24 or 32 Gy. The contralateral gland served as a control for unilaterally treated animals and parallel analyses were done 10 days or 180 days following the last irradiation dose. An early, dose-dependent effect of fractionated irradiation on noradrenaline-stimulated potassium fluxes (86Rb+ fluxes) was demonstrated. In contrast, the exocytotic amylase release displayed no obvious alterations, and morphologically no changes were seen. Regarding late effects (180 days) the noradrenaline-stimulated electrolyte secretion was decreased at least for the higher doses of irradiation. Amylase content and loss of acini was also dose-dependently decreased. At 10 days after bilateral irradiation there was a marked increase in the expression of the neuropeptides substance P, leu-enkephalin and bombesin in the ganglionic cells associated with the submandibular glands and in nerve fibers of the glandular parenchyme.In addition, a clinical prospective evaluation of 25 patients was performed before, during radiotherapy and 6, 12 and 18 months after the end of treatment. A great interindividual variation in the recovery was demonstrated with regard to salivary flow rate. Irradiation doses about 40-50 Gy caused generally reversible changes; sometimes salivary secretion was almost completely restored 6-18 months after the end of radiotherapy. Doses exceeding 65 Gy induced almost irreversible alterations.Even if DNA is the target for the lethal effect of irradiation, other constituents, such as the cell membrane or neuropeptide expression can be significantly affected by irradiation and cause important physiological changes.
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| 10. |
- Nap, M, et al.
(författare)
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Specificity and affinity of monoclonal antibodies against carcinoembryonic antigen.
- 1992
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Ingår i: Cancer Research. - 0008-5472 .- 1538-7445. ; 52:8, s. 2329-39
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The binding specificities of 52 well-characterized monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) against carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) from 12 different research groups were studied by immunohistochemistry and immuno flow cytometry. In addition, the binding constant for the interaction between Mab and CEA was determined by a solution-phase assay. Cryostat sections of colon carcinoma and normal colon, stomach, liver, pancreas, and spleen were studied by immunohistochemistry. Peripheral blood granulocytes, monocytes, and lymphocytes were assayed by immuno flow cytometry. The Mabs used here have previously been classified into five essentially nonoverlapping epitope groups (GOLD 1-5) (Cancer Res., 49: 4852-4858, 1989). Most Mabs cross-reacted with different normal tissues, ranging from highly cross-reactive Mabs (positive reaction with 8 of 9 discriminating tissues) to relatively specific Mabs (positive reaction with 1 of 9 discriminating tissues). Five Mabs (10%) were specific, reacting only with colon carcinoma, normal colon mucosa, and normal gastric foveola. There was a correlation between epitope group and binding specificity. Mabs with a high degree of CEA specificity almost exclusively belonged to epitope groups 1, 2, and 3, while highly cross-reactive Mabs belonged to epitope groups 4 and 5. There was no correlation between antibody specificity and affinity for CEA. Specific Mabs with high as well as low affinity were found.
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