Fc Receptor-Like Structures on in Vitro-Cultured Human Ovarian Tumor Cells

Abstract

Four ovarian cystadenocarcinomas cultured in vitro were tested by a radioisotopic method with sera from cancer patients or healthy donors to search for a possible specific antitumor immune response of patients bearing ovarian tumors. However, the ovarian tumor cells were found to bear on their membrane surface structures able to bind immunoglobulins from any tested serum, thus making impossible the detection of a hypothetical specific antitumor antibody. These structures were demonstrated to bind the Fc portion of the Ig and were therefore similar to the Fc receptors described on various normal cells, particularly of the immunocompetent compartment.