Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for herpes simplex virus tumor-associated antigen

Cell-mediated immunity in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia

Various immune parameters, i.e., peripheral T and B cell distribution, T cell subpopulation, interleukin 2 (IL-2) activity and in vitro lymphocyte responses to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and concanavalin A (Con A), were investigated in 24 pretreated patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and in 35 normal controls. Of the measured parameters, lymphocyte response to PHA was significantly lower in the CIN than control group (P less than 0.05). The values of all other measured parameters were similar in both groups.

TAF Test in Primary Esophageal Carcinoma: Comparison with other Tumor Markers

An ELISA method for the determination of circulating specific HSV-TAA antibodies has recently become available (TAF test). The presence of TAF was tested in serum of 154 patients with primary esophageal carcinoma, collected in three institutions. The overall TAF-test positivity rate was 57.1%, being significantly lower in stage IV than in stage III patients. The concordance rate between TAF and CEA, ferritin, TPA, SCC and TATI was low, suggesting that TAF is probably independent of the other tumor markers evaluated.

The clinical role of TAF-test determination in patients with esophageal carcinoma is currently under evaluation.

Studies on the special tumor marker of cervical cancer of the uterus

Although cervical cancer is the most common malignancy of the gynecologic system, very few tumor markers have been specially prepared for this disease. This article reviews some of the current investigations of those markers, particularly describing TA-4, a tumor antigen of cervical squamous cell carcinoma, which has currently been widely used in clinical practice.

TAF-test: a tumor diagnosis device in oncologic urology

A screening test for detecting antibodies to HSV-TAA was performed on 26 sera, from urinary bladder carcinoma patients and on 30 sera from prostatic carcinoma patients. Positive results were found in 50% of the urinary bladder cancer sera and in 60% of the prostatic carcinoma sera. As control 10/11 sera from benign prostatic hypertrophy and 4/4 sera from renal pelvis or ureter neoplasias (tumors never previously associated to HSV) were negative before and after surgery. The only one positive of the former group became negative after surgical treatment. The TAF-test can therefore be a meaningful test for monitoring antibody levels in the sera of patients before, during or after the treatment, in order to evaluate the presence of metastases or the success of a therapy.

The antigenicity and immunology of human cervical squamous cell carcinoma: a review

Numerous studies have demonstrated an altered antigenicity in the carcinomatous cervix. Whether the neoplasia-associated antigens are of viral origin, are actually normal antigens expressed in elevated levels, or are true tumor-associated antigens has not been precisely determined, since evidence has been presented for all of these possibilities. These antigens associated with cervical squamous cell carcinoma have been demonstrated not only biochemically and by raising antisera to the tumors in animals but also by studies of the humoral and cell-mediated immune responses of cervical cancer patients. Immunodiagnosis of cervical cancer with the use of these antigens has, to date, not been feasible, although several of the assays appear potentially useful.