Abstract
Isolation of a melanoma-specific protein (MSP) from human urine has been achieved using antibody affinity chromatography. MSP migrates as a single homogeneous protein on SDS PAGE and comparison of these data and ultracentrifuge analyses indicates that MSP contains a single polypeptide chain. MSP, however, shows considerable charge heterogeneity on isoelectric focusing. The desialo form, alpha 2 MSP, is found predominantly in patients with advanced metastatic disease, whilst only the sialo form alpha 1 MSP, is obtained from the urine of patients with early-stage disease. MSP does not react with antisera raised to alpha 1 foetoprotein (AFP) or carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and hence is immunologically distinct from these other tumour-associated glycoproteins. Antisera raised to MSP do not react with normal skin melanocytes nor with any foetal tissue tested, and hence the origin of MSP remains unresolved.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 24 print issues and online access
$259.00 per year
only $10.79 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bennett, C., Cooke, K. Further characterization of a melanoma-specific protein from human urine. Br J Cancer 41, 734–744 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1980.135
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1980.135