In an attempt to recognize general patterns in the processing of Abs (
antibodies) bound to the surface of tumor cells, eight monoclonal anti
bodies were tested on 10 hematological malignancies of various histolo
gical types. The results were compared with previous findings obtained
with carcinomas, melanomas, and gliomas, using some of the same antib
odies. The data demonstrated that some B-cell lymphomas appear to be u
nusual in that Abs were unable to bind to them irreversibly; except fo
r those Abs that were rapidly internalized, none of the Abs tested was
able to bind irreversibly to the B-cell lymphomas Raji or RL. In cont
rast, most Abs bound irreversibly to the tumors of other histological
types, including other hematological tumors. Irreversible Ab binding t
o B-cell lymphomas was achieved by cross-linking the Abs on the cell s
urface. Such differences between cell lines may be due to differences
in the supramolecular structure of the surface membrane, which affect
the frequency or stability of bivalent Ab binding. The Ab binding inte
raction could not be described in terms of ''functional affinity.'' Th
ese results may lead to improvements in the use of Abs for tumor immun
otherapy and for other purposes.