Humoral immune responses of lung cancer patients against the Transmembrane Phosphatase with TEnsin homology (TPTE).
OBJECTIVE
The cancer/testis (C/T) antigen Transmembrane Phosphatase with TEnsin homology (TPTE) is aberrantly expressed in many tumors including lung cancer. In the present study, we analyzed TPTE-auto-antibodies in lung cancer patients.


METHODS
Using a crude-lysate ELISA, we analyzed a large cohort of 307 sera from lung cancer patients and 47 healthy donors for TPTE-specific autoantibodies. Sero-reactivity was correlated with clinical parameters and patients' survival.


RESULTS
TPTE-specific antibodies were detected in 41 of 307 (13.4%) sera from lung cancer patients. Based on an optimal cut-off value calculated by ROC curve analysis sensitivity for diagnosing lung cancer was 52% and specificity was 72%. TPTE sero-positivity was not associated with tumor stage, tumor histology, gender or age. Multivariate analysis indicated that TPTE sero-positivity is associated with prolonged survival in patients with lung cancer, but established prognostic factors for survival prediction such as stage and histology remain indispensable.


CONCLUSIONS
Autoantibodies against TPTE occur spontaneously in lung cancer patients. TPTE sero-reactivity has moderate sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing lung cancer and is a positive prognostic marker.
Department of Hematology, Medical Oncology & Pneumology, University Medical Center Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany. Electronic address: andreas.kuemmel@unimedizin-mainz.de.
Andreas
A
Kuemmel
Department of Hematology, Medical Oncology & Pneumology, University Medical Center Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany; TRON gGmbH, Translational Oncology at the University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany.
Petra
P
Simon
Department of Hematology, Medical Oncology & Pneumology, University Medical Center Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany; TRON gGmbH, Translational Oncology at the University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany.
Andrea
A
Breitkreuz
Department of Hematology, Medical Oncology & Pneumology, University Medical Center Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany.
Julia
J
Röhlig
Department of Hematology, Medical Oncology & Pneumology, University Medical Center Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany; TRON gGmbH, Translational Oncology at the University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany.
Ulrich
U
Luxemburger
Institute of Medical Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, Johannes Gutenberg-University, 55101 Mainz, Germany.
Amelie
A
Elsäßer
Department of Medicine A, University Medical Center Muenster, 48149 Muenster, Germany.
Lars Henning
LH
Schmidt
Department of Medicine III, Goethe-University Frankfurt, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
Martin
M
Sebastian
Department of Hematology, Medical Oncology & Pneumology, University Medical Center Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany; TRON gGmbH, Translational Oncology at the University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany.
Ugur
U
Sahin
Ganymed Pharmaceuticals AG, Freiligrathstr.12, 55131 Mainz, Germany.
Özlem
Ö
Türeci
Department of Hematology, Medical Oncology & Pneumology, University Medical Center Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany.
Roland
R
Buhl
D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm / Q000276:immunology; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000276:immunology; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D056724:Immunity, Humoral / Q000276:immunology*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase / Q000276:immunology*; D011379:Prognosis; D000070876:Tensins
D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D001323:Autoantibodies; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D000070876:Tensins; C446603:TPTE protein, human; D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase
Cancer/testis antigen; NSCLC; NY-ESO 1; Prognosis; Serology; TPTE