Comparison of melanoma antigens in whole tumor extracts to those from IIB-MEL-J cells

Immunotherapy for melanoma has shown promise. A previous crude tumor extract (TE) was noted to have positive clinical effects and was previously analyzed with Western Blots. A new, safer vaccine derived from IIB-MEL-J tissue culture (TC) is compared to TE. Sera from 12 vaccine recipients, 8 melanoma patients who received no immunotherapy, and 8 normal controls served as a source of antibodies to investigate antigens in the vaccines. Antibodies against one or more of 6 antigens with molecular masses of 147, 81, 43, 37. 35, and 33 kDa were found in patient sera, were reactive to both vaccines, and were minimal in control sera. The molecular mass of antigens In TC are similar to TE. This new vaccine from IIB-MEL-J tissue culture provides a higher yield and a much more consistent source of clinically relevant antigens without risk of infection or contamination by other irrelevant material. This new source of antigen can be combined with biologic response modifiers to initiate further clinical trials.