Autoantibodies in breast cancer: their use as an aid to early diagnosis.
BACKGROUND
There is increasing evidence that the immune system produces a humoral response to cancer-derived antigens. This study assessed the diagnostic potential of autoantibodies to multiple known tumour-associated proteins.


METHODS
Sera from normal controls (n = 94), primary breast cancer patients (n = 97) and patients with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) (n = 40) were investigated for the presence of autoantibodies to p53, c-myc, HER2, NY-ESO-1, BRCA1, BRCA2 and MUC1 antigens by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.


RESULTS
Reproducibly elevated levels of autoantibodies were seen in at least one of the six antigens in 64% of primary breast cancer patient sera and 45% of patients with DCIS at a specificity of 85%. No significant differences were seen when patients were subdivided by age, tumour size, histological grade, lymph node status or detection methodology.


CONCLUSIONS
Autoantibodies against one or more of these tumour-associated antigens appears to indicate the presence of early-stage breast cancers. Autoantibody assays against a panel of antigens could be used as an aid to mammography in the detection and diagnosis of early primary breast cancer, especially in younger women at increased risk of breast cancer where mammography is known to have reduced sensitivity and specificity.
Chapman
C
C
Division of Breast Surgery, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK. caroline.chapman@nottongham.ac.uk
Murray
A
A
Chakrabarti
J
J
Thorpe
A
A
Woolston
C
C
Sahin
U
U
Barnes
A
A
Robertson
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm / Q000097:blood*; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000097:blood; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D002285:Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D018275:Carcinoma, Lobular / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000473:pathology; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D001323:Autoantibodies; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen