In situ detection of apoptosis by the TUNEL assay: an overview of techniques.

Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, plays an important role in normal development and homeostasis of adult tissues. Apoptosis has also been linked to many disease states, including cancer. One of the biochemical hallmarks of apoptosis is the generation of free 3'-hydroxyl termini on DNA via cleavage of chromatin into single and multiple oligonuleosome-length fragments.

The RAV12 monoclonal antibody recognizes the N-linked glycotope RAAG12: expression in human normal and tumor tissues.

Context: RAAG12 is a primate-restricted N-linked carbohydrate antigen present on multiple membrane-associated proteins. RAAG12 is recognized by the RAV12 monoclonal antibody. RAV12 binds to RAAG12-expressing gastrointestinal adenocarcinomas, modifies growth factor-mediated signaling, induces oncotic cell death in vitro, and has antitumor activity toward gastrointestinal tumor xenografts.

Antibody-based identification of cell surface antigens: targets for cancer therapy.

The identification of novel cell surface antigens present on tumor cells is crucial for developing new cancer therapies. Intact, viable cancer cells, which display cancer-restricted antigens in their native conformation and cellular context, provide a rich source of novel antigens. Antibody-based technologies are being used to probe the surface of intact cancer cells for cancer-specific antigen targets.