Diagnostic and premonitoring uses of a 65 kda tumor-associated protein

Abstract

A method is disclosed of adjunctive diagnostic testing and for monitoring the status of cancer treatment in an animal. The method includes the steps of (a) providing a sample of biological material from the animal; (b) contacting the sample with antibodies or other specific probes to a tumor-associated protein; and (c) determining the presence of an immunological reaction product formed by reaction between the antibodies (or other probes) and a protein present in the biological material, the presence of an immunological reaction product being indicative of the presence of cancer or likelihood of presence in the future of cancer. Also disclosed is a method of preparing monospecific antibodies to a protein which is particularly suited for very small quantities of rare proteins and for poorly antigenic proteins, where produced antibodies can suitably be used in the monitoring method or for other specific purposes, according to the selected protein. The method of preparing such antibodies involves immunizing an animal by implanting into the animal a section of a nitrocellulose blot, the section containing a selected protein.