Hybridoma antibody (FH6) defining a human cancer-associated difucoganglioside

Abstract

A hybridoma cell line (ATCC No. HB 8873) secreting a monoclonal IgM antibody (FH6) directed to a fucoganglioside, 6B, which accumulates in human colonic adenocarcinoma but is absent in normal colonic mucosa. The structure of the 6B ganglioside to which the antibody FH6 is directed is as follows: ##STR1## The hybridoma secreting the antibody FH6 was selected by reactivity of the FH6 antibody with the 6B ganglioside (VI.sup.3 NeuAcV.sup.3 III.sup.3 Fuc.sub.2 nLc.sub.6) and lack of reactivity with other glycolipids, including glycolipids having closely related structures, such as sialosyllactoneotetraosylceramide (IV.sup.3 NeuAcnLc.sub.4), sialosyllactofucopentaosy(III)ceramide (IV.sup.3 NeuAcIII.sup.3 FucnLc.sub.4), sialosyllactofucopentaosy(II)ceramide (sialosyl-Le.sup.a glycolipid; IV.sup.3 NeuAcIII.sup.4 FucLc.sub.4), and 6C fucoganglioside (sialosyl 2.fwdarw.6 fucoganglioside; VI.sup.6 NeuAcIII.sup.3 FucnLc.sub.6). The antibody FH6 is highly reactive with a large variety of human cancer cells, including colonic, lung, and breast cancer, but does not react with most normal adult cels (except, notably, granulocytes). The antibody FH6 is of practical value in diagnostic tests and in monitoring and implementing various cancer treatments.

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