title: Which antibody and which cancer in which paraneoplastic syndromes?
abstract: Paraneoplastic neurological syndromes can be associated with the presence of onconeural antibodies. These antibodies are the result of an immune response against a tumour that is ectopically expressing a neuronal antigen. The 'classical' onconeural antibodies (anti-Hu, Yo, Ma2, CRMP-5, amphiphysin and Ri) are directed against intracellular antigens and are strongly associated with underlying malignancy. By contrast, onconeural antibodies directed against cell surface antigens (eg, anti-NMDA, VGKC, AChR) have a weaker tumour association. This article gives a practical overview of the tumour associations, and the neurological associations, of the onconeural antibodies. There is also guidance on how to investigate occult malignancy in antibody positive cases.
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Neurology, University of Nottingham, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, UK. p.gozzard@nhs.net
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gozzard
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Maddison
mesh_terms: D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood / Q000145:classification; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000276:immunology; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood / Q000145:classification*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D010257:Paraneoplastic Syndromes / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D001323:Autoantibodies