Studies of Antigens Associated With Hodgkin's Disease

Following a previous preliminary report, this study was initiated to demonstate further evidence of tumor-associated antigens in Hodgkin’s diseaseand to determine if these antigens arefound in other pathologic states.Tumor-associated antigens are nowdemonstrated by three techniques in18 Hodgkin’s invoved spleens and arenot found to be present in equal concentration in normal spleens. Usingimmunofluorescence techniques andabsorbed tumor antisera, fluorescenceis demonstrated in tumors but not inthe normal region of the same tumor-bearing spleen or in normal spleens.Gel diffusion with absorbed tumor antisera revealed a common precipitinband in Hodgkin’s disease not presentin normal spleens or spleens fromother diseases. Studies with immunoelectrophoresis have demonstratedtwo antigens present in the tumorsin the spleen. Eighteen out of 19 Hodgkin’s tumors from the spleen have suchantigens identifiable by immunoelectrophoresis with concomitant negativenormal splenic controls in each case.Five out of 18 spleens from other disease states shared one of the antigens.These data confirm the presence ofcommon tumor-associated antigens inHodgkin’s disease, and it is postulated that at least one antigen may bea host cell reactant substance.

Submitted on February 7, 1972 Revised on June 5, 1972 Accepted on June 7, 1972