A Study of Childhood Renal Tumours using Xenogeneic Antiserum

Abstract

Fifty-six primary childhood [human] renal tumors, 14 normal and 12 fetal kidneys, were examined for their staining reaction with xenogeneic anti-Wilms'' antiserum. The antiserum was raised by injecting Wilms'' tumor extracts into 6-mo.-old rabbits which were rendered tolerant in utero with pooled normal kidney extracts. Renal carcinomas, mesoblastic nephroma and a large proportion of tubular Wilms'' tumors were stained by the antiserum. Six of 7 bone-metastasizing renal tumors of childhood (BMRTC) failed to fluoresce when treated with the antiserum, suggesting that the BMRTC has a different origin from the other childhood renal tumors studied.