The low titer and incidence of autologous antibody to melanoma has hampered its evaluation. Through acid dissociation and ultrafiltration of serum, we have been able to augment the autologous immune response in 9 of 10 patients studied. This result suggests that autologous antibody is present in most patients with melanoma, but is obscured by circulating antigen and the formation of immune complexes. Because native antibody and antibody derived from circulating immune complexes are produced by the host against physiologically relevant antigens, correlations can be made to clinical course. Serological studies of three patients with melanoma were performed with serum samples obtained over many months; these studies demonstrated correlations with tumor progression and clinical course. Serial serologic studies may yet provide one of the better ways to evaluate these relationships. They have the advantage of detecting transient events that may occur with the inception of metastatic disease or autoimmune phenomena, and of avoiding the difficulties encountered in comparing antibody responses between different individuals.
D R Vlock, J M Kirkwood
Usage data is cumulative from May 2024 through May 2025.
Usage | JCI | PMC |
---|---|---|
Text version | 86 | 0 |
54 | 8 | |
Scanned page | 187 | 4 |
Citation downloads | 54 | 0 |
Totals | 381 | 12 |
Total Views | 393 |
Usage information is collected from two different sources: this site (JCI) and Pubmed Central (PMC). JCI information (compiled daily) shows human readership based on methods we employ to screen out robotic usage. PMC information (aggregated monthly) is also similarly screened of robotic usage.
Various methods are used to distinguish robotic usage. For example, Google automatically scans articles to add to its search index and identifies itself as robotic; other services might not clearly identify themselves as robotic, or they are new or unknown as robotic. Because this activity can be misinterpreted as human readership, data may be re-processed periodically to reflect an improved understanding of robotic activity. Because of these factors, readers should consider usage information illustrative but subject to change.