Antibody immunity to the HER-2/neu oncogenic protein in patients with colorectal cancer.
The HER-2/neu protein is overexpressed in approximately 20% of human adenocarcinomas and is a defined tumor antigen in breast cancer. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the endogenous HER-2/neu specific antibody response in 57 patients with colorectal cancer. HER-2/neu specific antibodies, titer > or = 1:100, were detected in 14% (8/57) of patients with colorectal cancer compared to none of the normal control population (0/200). Furthermore, detection of HER-2/neu specific antibodies in the cancer population correlated significantly with HER-2/neu protein overexpression in the patients' tumor (p < 0.01). 46% of patients with HER-2/neu overexpressing tumors (6/13) and 5% of HER-2/neu negative tumors (2/44) had detectable HER-2/neu specific antibodies. The endogenous HER-2/neu antibody response in these patients was predominantly IgG or IgA.
Department of Medical Oncology, St. Vincent's Hospital, Darlinghurst, Australia.
R L
RL
Ward
N J
NJ
Hawkins
D
D
Coomber
M L
ML
Disis
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000276:immunology*
D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases