title: An elongation factor-like protein (EF-Tu) elicits a humoral response in infiltrating ductal breast carcinomas: an immunoproteomics investigation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In the current study, we have used an immunoproteomics approach to identify proteins that commonly elicit a humoral response in patients with infiltrating ductal carcinomas of the breast.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sera obtained at the time of diagnosis from 40 patients with invasive breast cancer and 42 healthy controls were screened for the presence of IgG antibodies to MCF-7 cell line proteins using a serological proteomics-based approach.
  
  
  RESULTS
  An immunoreactive protein detected in sera from 21 of 40 patients was isolated and subsequently identified as elongation factor-Tu.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The immunoproteomic approach implemented here offers a powerful tool for determining novel tumor antigens that induce a humoral immune response in cancer patients. From our findings, the immunoreactive EF-Tu protein and/or the related circulating antibodies may display clinical usefulness as potential diagnostic markers and provide a means for a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying breast cancer development.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'Immuno-Oncologie Moléculaire, Faculté de Médecine de Monastir, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Bechr
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hamrita
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'Immuno-Oncologie Moléculaire, Faculté de Médecine de Monastir, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Hela Ben
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Nasr
authors.affiliation: Plate Forme Protéomique, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, CNRS, 67084 Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hammann
authors.affiliation: Plate Forme Protéomique, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, CNRS, 67084 Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: Lauriane
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kuhn
authors.affiliation: UMR INRA/CNRS/Université de Bourgogne, Plante Microbe Environnement (PME), France.
authors.forename: Christelle-Lemaitre
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Guillier
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'Immuno-Oncologie Moléculaire, Faculté de Médecine de Monastir, Tunisia; Service d'Obstétrique et des maladies féminines, Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire-Farhat-Hached, Sousse, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Anouar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chaieb
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'Immuno-Oncologie Moléculaire, Faculté de Médecine de Monastir, Tunisia; Service d'Obstétrique et des maladies féminines, Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire-Farhat-Hached, Sousse, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Hedi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Khairi
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'Immuno-Oncologie Moléculaire, Faculté de Médecine de Monastir, Tunisia; Faculty of Sciences, Sfax, Tunisia. Electronic address: k.chahed@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Karim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chahed
mesh_terms: D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm / Q000097:blood; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis*; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D056724:Immunity, Humoral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D010444:Peptide Elongation Factor Tu / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D040901:Proteomics / Q000379:methods; D012698:Serologic Tests / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D010444:Peptide Elongation Factor Tu