title: Quantification of autoantibodies to plasminogen in plasma of patients with cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The investigation of autoantibodies which may play a role in the processes of angiogenesis and tumorogenesis is important in the early diagnostis of cancer.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to investigate the levels of autoantibodies to Glu-plasminogen (Pg) in plasma of patients with tumors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Plasma samples from healthy volunteers were compared with samples from patients with prostate cancer using 2D electrophoresis and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Plasma samples from 25 patients with prostate cancer, 15 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), 29 patients with breast cancer, and 43 healthy volunteers were tested using ELISA to anti-Pg IgG autoantibodies. Affinity chromatography on Pg-sepharoses was used to assess the quantity of anti-Pg IgG in control plasma and plasma of prostate cancer patients. ATTESTAT program was used for nonparametric analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Using 2D electrophoresis, marker spots below 50 kD were detected in prostate cancer samples. These spots were identified as fragments of Pg and IgG. Using affinity chromatography on Pg-sepharose, the quantity of IgG bound to Pg versus total IgG was determined to be 9% in control and 27% in prostate cancer samples. The frequency of occurence of elevated levels of anti-Pg IgG was 84% in prostate cancer samples, 69% in breast cancer samples, 40% in BPH samples, and 11% in healthy plasma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Autoantibodies to Pg may be involved in tumorogenesis and elevated levels of anti-Pg IgG antibodies may be a risk factor for tumor development.
authors.affiliation: Scientific Research Institute of Physical-Chemical Medicine, FMBA, Moscow, Russian Federation.
authors.forename: Eugene I
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Goufman
authors.affiliation: Angiogen Co. Ltd., Moscow, Russian Federation.
authors.forename: Vasily N
authors.initials: VN
authors.lastname: Iakovlev
authors.affiliation: Institute of Human Morphology, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Moscow, Russian Federation.
authors.forename: Natalia B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Tikhonova
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Anna E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Lokshin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood*; D015180:Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000276:immunology; D010958:Plasminogen / Q000276:immunology*; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000097:blood*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood*; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D010958:Plasminogen
keywords: ELISA; Plasminogen; autoantibodies to Pg; biomarkers; cancer