Tumor-Associated Antibodies in the Serum of Patients With Ocular Melanoma

Abstract

• The tumor-associated antibody (TAA) levels in two patients with choroidal melanomas who were undergoing xenon arc photocoagulation therapy were determined by indirect immunofluorescence with allogeneic tumor cells. The TAA titers rapidly increased after each photocoagulation session and then fell to previous levels. Even after 11 months, TAA levels rose after as many as five photocoagulation therapy sessions. Variations in the TAA titers probably occurred as an immune response to the release of sequestered tumor-associated antigens after the initial photocoagulation or necrosis following the reduction of the tumor's blood supply. The persistence of changes in the TAA level after many photocoagulation sessions and spanning nearly a year suggests that even though the tumor appears clinically resolved, sequestered tumor-associated antigens have remained in the area.