Increase in autoantibodies against Fas (CD95) during carcinogenesis in the human colon: a hope for the immunoprevention of cancer?
A thorough understanding of the naturally occurring events in the immune system in response to carcinogenesis will facilitate the development of strategies for the immunoprevention of cancer. The adenoma-carcinoma sequence in the human colon is a well-established clinical example of multi-step carcinogenesis and can be used for immunological studies. Based on previous observations that both apoptosis and the expression of Fas (Apo-1, CD95) are altered during carcinogenesis in the human colon, we asked the question whether serum titers of autoantibodies against Fas show any modification during the adenoma-carcinoma sequence. Healthy controls (38), patients with colorectal adenomas (38) and patients with colorectal adenocarcinomas (21) were investigated. Anti-Fas antibody titers were found to be significantly higher in patients with colorectal adenomas than in healthy controls and higher still in patients with colorectal adenocarcinomas. This increase in anti-Fas autoantibody titers during carcinogenesis might reflect the activation of natural defense mechanisms by the immune system.
Reipert
B M
BM
Biomolecular Therapeutics (BMT)-Research Center, Industriestrasse 72, 1220 Vienna, Austria. birgit_reipert@baxter.com
Tanneberger
S
S
Pannetta
A
A
Bedosti
M
M
Poell
M
M
Zimmermann
K
K
Stellamor
M T
MT
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D000236:Adenoma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D000368:Aged; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003106:Colon / Q000378:metabolism; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D012007:Rectum / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000276:immunology*
D001323:Autoantibodies; C505661:FASLG protein, human; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D019014:fas Receptor