Serum autoantibodies as biomarkers for early cancer detection

Abstract

Autoantibodies against autologus tumor‐associated antigens have been detected in the asymptomatic stage of cancer and can thus serve as biomarkers for early cancer diagnosis. Moreover, because autoantibodies are found in sera, they can be screened easily using a noninvasive approach. Consequently, many studies have been initiated to identify novel autoantibodies relevant to various cancer types. To facilitate autoantibody discovery, approaches that allow the simultaneous identification of multiple autoantibodies are preferred. Five such techniques – SEREX, phage display, protein microarray, SERPA and MAPPing – are discussed here. In the second part of this review, we discussed autoantibodies found in the five most common cancers (lung, breast, colorectal, stomach and liver). The discovery of panels of tumor‐associated antigens and autoantibody signatures with high sensitivity and specificity would aid in the development of diagnostics, prognostics and therapeutics for cancer patients.

Circulating antibodies to p16 protein-derived peptides in breast cancer

“…There is convincing evidence suggesting that circulating autoantibodies for cancer have diagnostic potential (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6). A successful test has been developed for early diagnosis of lung cancer (7)(8)(9).…”

Autoanticorps et diagnostic précoce des cancers

“…Leur principe est basé sur l'immobilisation d'antigènes ou d'anticorps sur un support (lame) et sur une analyse différentielle des interactions autoantigène/autoanticorps. Ces puces à protéines ont facilité la découverte de nouveaux autoanticorps et des antigènes qui leur sont associés dans le sérum de patients atteints de cancer (pour revue, voir [3]). …”

“…Une voie de recherche intéressante dans l'identification de nouveaux marqueurs sériques des formes précoces de cancers semble être l'étude de la réponse humorale. Ainsi, au cours de ces dernières années, un très grand nombre d'articles de recherche ont apporté la preuve de l'existence d'autoanticorps circulants dans le sérum de patients atteints de cancers [3]. Cette inflation littéraire s'explique notamment par l'importance des avancées technologiques réalisées ces dix dernières années.…”

The Role of Circulating Antigen and Autoantibody in Diagnosing Ovarian Cancer

“…TAAs are tumor specific proteins and peptides that are subjected to dysregulation, mutation or post translational modification (PTM) during cancer development and have been reported as potential causes of an (auto-)antibody response [37]. There are few characteristics of autoantibodies that make them potential candidates for biomarker validation and screening.…”