The functional role of the carbohydrate in human melanoma associated antigens. I. Antigen-antibody complex formation.

Messenger ribonucleic acids (mRNA) for tumor associated antigens (TAA) were isolated from human melanotic melanoma (HMMC-ShA, HMMC-WJP) and amelanotic melanoma (HMMC-Sr, HMMC-KM) cells. The melanoma cells were cultured in standard Eagle's MEM and in MEM supplemented with tunicamycin (Tu). The mRNAs were translated in vitro using wheat germ system. Using a standard immunodiffusion system, TAA from melanoma cells harvested from standard MEM differed from the TAA obtained from cells harvested from MEM supplemented with Tu, whereas, TAA pretreated with endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase resembled TAA of cells harvested from MEM supplemented with Tu. The translation products synthesized by mRNA of melanotic melanoma cells resembled TAA extracted directly with 3 M KCl from the cells, but differed from TAA isolated directly from the cells or synthesized by mRNA from amelanotic melanoma cells. Therefore, the melanotic melanoma differed from the amelanotic melanoma cells in their genetic expression. The TAA-immunological reactivities are modulated by a post-translation step regulating genetic expression.

Perchloric acid-soluble serum glycoprotein as an index for tumor cell burden in the early detection of cancer.

Neoplastic cells, particularly human mammary carcinoma cells, shed or secrete glycoproteins which are tumor-specific. These compounds contain N-acetylneuraminic acid (NANA) and they differ from the bulk of serum proteins and glycoproteins in being soluble in perchloric acid. Graded number of R3230 adenocarcinoma (AdCa) cells were implanted subcutaneously in groups of female Fisher rats. At time intervals, while under anesthesia the spleens were dissected out, and blood was drawn from the animals. The blood was examined for NANA levels and the spleen cells for lymphocyte migration inhibition. The serum perchloric acid (PA) soluble proteins and the PA-NANA levels were time-dependent and increased with the number of implanted tumor cells. Maximum levels were found in sera from blood drawn 196 hours or later from animals which received 1,000 tumor cells/rat, or more. At 72 hours or more after tumor cell implantation, migration of splenic lymphocytes from animals which received 100 or more R3230 AdCa cells per animal was inhibited on contact with neuraminidase-treated formalinized R3230 AdCa cells. The magnitude of inhibition increased with time and with the number of implanted tumor cells. Therefore, blood PA-NANA levels and lymphocyte migration inhibition rae parameters for the in-vivo early detection and monitor tumor cell proliferation.

An effective method of treating long-enduring wounds and ulcers by topical applications of solutions of nutrients.

A safe and effective method of improving repair and controlling infection of wounds is presented. It consists of debridement daily and application topically of a balanced solution of salts, amino acids, a high-molecular weight, D-glucose polysaccharide, and ascorbic acid. Wounds of several causes were treated, namely, second- and third-degree thermal burns, decubitus, varicose, and stasis ulcers, and diabetic lesions. Local infection was controlled early and the majority of the cases responded with quick formation of highly vascular, smooth, infection-free granulation tissue and centripetal epithelial growth. Small- and medium-sized lesions healed spontaneously in 4 to 8 weeks. Larger lesions were readily managed with autografts of skin as soon as satisfactory beds were obtained.