Abstract: Human tumor associated Thomsen-Friedenreich (TF) antigen is purified from adenocarcinoma conditioned media, adenocarcinoma cell detergent extracts or plural effusion fluid by affinity chromatography using an insolubilized TF-specific monoclonal antibody, MAb 49H.8. The TF antigen is a glycoprotein characterized by a non-cryptic Gal .beta.(1.fwdarw.3) GalNAc epitope, a molecular weight in excess of 1,000,000 daltons, and extractability with perchloric acid, the epitope being sensitive to alkali and periodate but resistant to acid. A heterologous sandwich immunoassay has been developed for human TF antigen using a monoclonal antibody as the catcher and labelled peanut agglutinin as the probe. Since human TF antigen is shed by tumor cells, a positive determination of the TF antigen in a patient sample indicates the presence of cancer.

Abstract: DTH-Effector cells are primed with carbohydrate antigens and used to enhance the cellular immune response. Tumors have been inhibited by DTH-Effector cells primed with epiglycanin and with synthetic T and Tn antigens. Either the DTH-Effector cells, or these tumor-associated carbohydrate antigens directly, may be used for tumor prophylaxis and therapy.