Antineural and antinuclear autoantibodies are of prognostic relevance in non-small cell lung cancer.
BACKGROUND
Autoantibodies against nervous system structures have been proven to be a prognostic factor in small cell lung cancer. However, little is known about humoral autoimmunity in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and its prognostic significance.


METHODS
We examined antineural antibodies (AnAb) and antinuclear antibodies (ANA) in the sera of 61 patients with NSCLC (histologically: 29 adenocarcinoma, 32 squamous cell carcinoma). Twenty-one patients had stage I NSCLC, 11 stage II, and 29 patients stage III. Autoantibody detection was done by immunofluorescence test; Western blotting was used as a confirmation test.


RESULTS
Of the NSCLC patients, 27.8% were antineural antibody positive, and 32.7% had ANA. No differences were found between the histological groups. AnAb-positive patients showed a better survival in all patients (p = 0.005). There was also a higher survival of ANA-positive patients, but this was only significant in stage III (p = 0.0025). Cox regression analysis showed that antineural and antinuclear antibodies are a stage-independent prognostic factor in NSCLC.


CONCLUSIONS
Antineural and antinuclear autoantibodies are a stage-independent prognostic factor in patients with NSCLC and may represent an effective immune response to the tumor.
Blaes
F
F
Department of Neurology, University of the Saarland, Homburg, Germany. nefbla@krzsun.med-rz.uni-sb.de
Klotz
M
M
Huwer
H
H
Straub
U
U
Kalweit
G
G
Schimrigk
K
K
Schäfers
H J
HJ
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000276:immunology; D000368:Aged; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000097:blood*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000276:immunology*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000276:immunology; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D001323:Autoantibodies; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor