Onconeural antigens and the paraneoplastic neurologic disorders: at the intersection of cancer, immunity, and the brain.
Paraneoplastic neurologic disorders (PNDs) are believed to be autoimmune neuronal degenerations that develop in some patients with systemic cancer. A series of genes encoding previously undiscovered neuronal proteins have been cloned using antiserum from PND patients. Identification of these onconeural antigens suggests a reclassification of the disorders into four groups: those in which neuromuscular junction proteins, nerve terminal/vesicle-associated proteins, neuronal RNA binding proteins, or neuronal signal-transduction proteins serve as target antigens. This review considers insights into basic neurobiology, tumor immunology, and autoimmune neuronal degeneration offered by the characterization of the onconeural antigens.
Darnell
R B
RB
Laboratory of Molecular Neuro-Oncology, The Rockefeller University, New York, 10021, USA.
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000276:immunology; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000145:classification / Q000209:etiology*; D015213:Neuroimmunomodulation; D010257:Paraneoplastic Syndromes / Q000145:classification / Q000209:etiology*
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins