MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY REACTING WITH HUMAN POLYMORPHIC EPITHELIAL MUCIN

摘要

Monoclonal antibodies which specifically bind to the amino acid sequence ALA PRO ASP THR ARG of the repeat sequence of human polymorphic epithelial mucin are disclosed. The antibodies can be used to detect mucin in biological fluids, and thus can be used to detect adenocarcinomas which are characterised by high levels of mucin production. Peptides which correspond in amino acid sequence to the epitope recognised by the monoclonal antibodies may be used as therapeutic agents in vaccines for the treatment of adenocarcinoma.