Abstract: The present invention provides recombinant CEA glycoproteins and methods for their production. These recombinant CEA glycoproteins s lack the C-terminal 26 amino acids which are present in natural CEA and are characterized in that they are free from cross-reactive CEA-like antigens, antigenically indistingiushable from the soluble form of CEA shed from tumor cells, and devoid of the ethanolamine which is present at the C-terminus of natural CEA, and also devoid of the additional amino acids which may be attached to the natural CEA through said ethanolamine. Said recombinant CEA glycoproteins s preferably have the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 1. The CEA glycoproteins s of the invention may be used as reagents in an immunoassay for the diagnosis of neoplastic diseases. The invention also relates to a DNA encoding said recombinant CEA glycoprotein, such as the DNA having the nucleotide sequence SEQ ID NO: 2 or a functional equivalent sequence thereof.

Abstract: The invention concerns novel monoclonal antibodies with high specificity to and affinity for human carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), derivatives thereof, processes for the preparation of these antibodies and their derivatives, hybridoma cell lines secreting the antibodies, and processes for the preparation of said cell lines. The monoclonal antibodies of the invention and their derivatives are useful in the diagnosis and therapy of cancer and serial monitoring of cancer patients for recurrent disease or response to therapy. Test kits and pharmaceutical compositions containing said monoclonal anti-CEA antibodies are also subject of the invention.