# CIRCULATING TUMOR COMPONENTS

> **NIH NIH R01** · JOHN MUIR MEMORIAL HOSP (WALNUT CRK, CA) · 1990 · $332,455

## Abstract

The overall goal of the present application is to develop more specific
and sensitive immunoassays for circulating breast epithelial antigens
(CBE-Ags), using recent information we have obtained on the antigenicity
and catabolism of CBE-Ags and employing newer immunoassay systems that we
have created.  These novel, sensitive, and specific assays that we
develop, rely first on out findings regarding the fragmentation of CBE-Ags
with simultaneous clearance from the blood compartment.  These fragments
are much longer-lived in blood, and hence more useful, than the intact
CBE-Ags.  Our present incorporation of recombinant epitopes into assays
for these long-lived fragments represents a totally novel approach to
serum marker measurement in breast cancer.  These approaches, if
successful, will identify not only minimal tumor load in breast cancer,
but also the 10% of the female population that will eventually develop
breast cancer, in which early diagnosis could lead to life-saving,
curative treatment.

The creation of such assays for CBE-Ags and their fragments will depend on
immunological and recombinant DNA approaches.  We will screen breast cDNA
libraries for sequences encoding epitopes on CBE-Ags, and especially on
their catabolic fragments, both with MoAbs we already possess and with new
ones generated specifically for this purpose.  The corresponding cDNA will
be characterized, sequenced, inserted into expression vectors, and
recombinant molecules containing epitopes for the CBE-Ags and their
catabolic fragments synthesized or expressed and new customized MoAbs
generated for the immunoassays.  These assays will then be tested in
clinical trials for their sensitivity, specificity and predictive value.

Since we have demonstrated both epitopic and antigenic heterogeneity and
the individuality of tumor cell populations, several CBE-Ag tests will be
assembled in panels to allow the choice of the most prevalent CBE-Ags for
each breast tumor to be tested.  The recombinant epitope assay
configuration that we propose, will make the use of a panel of CBE-Ags
assays both expedient and simple.  Thus, we propose to develop a second
generation of breast cancer serum markers to provide the desired test for
the detection of residual disease in the axillary node negative patient,
for early prediction of relapse in the disease-free period, for monitoring
therapeutic response and possibly for screening female populations at
risk.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3179319
- **Project number:** 2R01CA039932-07
- **Recipient organization:** JOHN MUIR MEMORIAL HOSP (WALNUT CRK, CA)
- **Principal Investigator:** ROBERTO L CERIANI
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1990
- **Award amount:** $332,455
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 1984-09-16 → 1993-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3179319

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3179319, CIRCULATING TUMOR COMPONENTS (2R01CA039932-07). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3179319. Licensed CC0.

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