title: Small-cell lung cancer-associated autoantibodies: potential applications to cancer diagnosis, early detection, and therapy.
abstract: Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is the most aggressive lung cancer subtype and lacks effective early detection methods and therapies. A number of rare paraneoplastic neurologic autoimmune diseases are strongly associated with SCLC. Most patients with such paraneoplastic syndromes harbor high titers of antibodies against neuronal proteins that are abnormally expressed in SCLC tumors. These autoantibodies may cross-react with the nervous system, possibly contributing to autoimmune disease development. Importantly, similar antibodies are present in many SCLC patients without autoimmune disease, albeit at lower titers. The timing of autoantibody development relative to cancer and the nature of the immune trigger remain to be elucidated. Here we review what is currently known about SCLC-associated autoantibodies, and describe a recently developed mouse model system of SCLC that appears to lend itself well to the study of the SCLC-associated immune response. We also discuss potential clinical applications for these autoantibodies, such as SCLC diagnosis, early detection, and therapy.
authors: Department of Surgery, Norris Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 1441 Eastlake Ave, NOR 6420, Los Angeles, CA 90089-9176, USA.
authors: Meleeneh
authors: M
authors: Kazarian
authors: Ite A
authors: IA
authors: Laird-Offringa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000276:immunology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D051379:Mice; D055752:Small Cell Lung Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies