Detection of leukemic antigens by hypersensitivity assay.

Leukemic antigens were obtained from organs derived from lymphoblastic leukemia by extraction and immunosorption on columns containing anti-human tissue immunoglobulins. Guinea pigs were sensitized with these antigens and then challenged with the extracts from leukemic or normal organs and with leukemic, syphilitic or normal sera via intradermal route. It was noted that about 80% of leukemic organ extracts and over 50% of leukemic sera elicited strong dermal hypersensitivity reaction in animals sensitized with the immunoadsorbed leukemic antigen preparations. Only minor or insignificant reactions were produced by a few of syphilitic and normal sera.