p53 autoantibodies can be indicative of the development of breast cancer relapse.
BACKGROUND
Serum autoantibodies (AAb) against mutated p53 protein have been detected in patients with invasive breast cancer of all stages. The present pilot study was conducted to investigate the use of p53 AAb titers in monitoring patients with recurrent breast cancer.


METHODS
Sequential sera of 24 patients with primary non-metastatic breast cancer were retrospectively ELISA-tested for the presence of p53 AAb before therapy and during the clinical follow-up until relapse.


RESULTS
At the time of first diagnosis the prevalence of p53 AAb was 11 out of 24 (46%). In 7 out of 11 initially positive-tested patients, therapy was paralleled by decreasing p53 AAb titers. In four of these patients relapse was preceded by an increase of the titer. In 2 out of 11 patients, the titers remained positive throughout follow-up, possibly indicating a lack of therapy response. Two patients, who initially tested negative, seroconverted to p53 AAb positivity upon relapse.


CONCLUSIONS
Monitoring of p53 AAb during follow-up can be informative about the clinical course of the disease. The development of breast cancer relapse can be preceded by an increase of p53 AAb titer.
Regele
Sylvia
S
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Ulm, Prittwitzstrasse 43, D-89075 Ulm, Germany. sylvia.regele@medizin.uni-ulm.de
Vogl
Florian D
FD
Kohler
Tanja
T
Kreienberg
Rolf
R
Runnebaum
Ingo B
IB
D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010865:Pilot Projects; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000276:immunology*
D001323:Autoantibodies; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53