title: Demonstration of autoantibodies against ACTH in serum from a patient with cancer of unknown origin.
abstract: We report the presence of autoantibodies against ACTH in plasma from a 46 year old man with poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma of unknown origin. There was no evidence of Cushing's syndrome. By radioimmunoassay and immunocytochemical technique the antibodies were found to possess specificity against the 13-24 aminoacid sequence of ACTH. This sequence includes the biologically active site. On the basis of our findings it is discussed whether the presence of the autoantibodies could reflect a fundamental immunological disturbance primarily or secondarily related to cancer.
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000556:secondary; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000276:immunology*; D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone