Anti-Ma2 antibody related paraneoplastic limbic/brain stem encephalitis associated with breast cancer expressing Ma1, Ma2, and Ma3 mRNAs.

Abstract

A 69 year old woman presented with cognitive impairment and supranuclear gaze palsy caused by paraneoplastic limbic/brain stem encephalitis associated with atypical medullary breast carcinoma. The cerebrospinal fluid from the patient harboured an anti-neuronal cell antibody against Ma2 antigen, but not against Ma1 or Ma3 antigen. Despite the antibody being restricted to the Ma2 antigen, the patient's cancer tissue expressed Ma1, Ma2, and Ma3 mRNAs. These results, and the expression of Ma2 mRNA in an atypical medullar breast carcinoma in another patient without paraneoplastic encephalitis, indicate that the induction of anti-Ma2 antibody depends on host immunoreponsiveness and not on the presence of the antigen itself in the cancer.

• Authors: K Sahashi, K Sakai, K Mano, G Hirose
• Journal: Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry (J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry) Vol. 74 Issue 9 Pg. 1332-5 (Sep 2003) ISSN: 0022-3050 [Print] England
• PMID: 12933950 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antigens
• Antigens, Neoplasm
• Ma1 antigen
• Ma2 antigen
• Nerve Tissue Proteins
• Proteins
• RNA, Messenger

Topics

• Aged
• Antibody Formation
• Antigens (analysis)
• Antigens, Neoplasm
• Brain Stem (pathology)
• Breast Neoplasms (complications, immunology, psychology)
• Carcinoma, Medullary (complications, immunology, psychology)
• Encephalitis (etiology)
• Female
• Humans
• Limbic System (pathology)
• Nerve Tissue Proteins
• Paraneoplastic Syndromes (etiology, pathology)
• Proteins (analysis)
• RNA, Messenger