Three serological reactions have been followed in a Burkitt lymphoma patient during the clinical course of the disease, including long-term regression, followed by recurrence and progressive growth, in spite ojchemotherapy. Antibodies directed against surface antigens characteristic for EB V-carrying Iymphoblastoid cell lines of Burkitt lymphoma origin were assessed by blocking of direct membrane immunofluorcJscence. The level of surface reactive antibodies was high while the patient was in long-term regression. It decreased to an insignificant level approximately half a year before tumor recurrence was clinically diagnosed. Immediately after the recurrence, it remained at a low level but increased subsequently and remained at a high level until the death of the patient. The anti-EBV antibody level itself showed only minor fluctuations. Precipitating antibodies, directed ugainst soluble antigen extracted from the EB V-carrying Jijoye cell line, were absent during long-term regression. They appeared soon after recurrence and remained at a high level until the patient died. Repeated biopsy specimens were taken after the recurrence. I n the course of progressive growth, a coating of the IgC type was seen to accumulate on the surface of the tumor cells.
Possible implications of these findings are discussed.