Identification of tumor antigens that elicit a humoral immune response in breast cancer patients' sera by serological proteome analysis (SERPA).

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

In this study we applied a serological proteomics-based approach (SERPA) to identify tumor antigens that commonly induce a humoral immune response in patients with infiltrating ductal breast carcinomas.

METHODS:

Sera obtained at the time of diagnosis from 40 patients with invasive breast cancer and 42 healthy controls were screened individually for the presence of IgG antibodies to MCF-7 cell line proteins. Immunoreactive proteins were isolated and subsequently identified by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry.

RESULTS:

We identified 26 proteins that reacted with antibodies in the sera from breast cancer patients. Among these antigens, a significantly higher frequency occurs against the molecular chaperone HSP60, the tumor suppressor prohibitin, beta-tubulin, the haptoglobin-related protein and peroxiredoxin-2. Immunoreactivity to hnRNPK, Mn-SOD and F1-ATPase was also clearly detected in the patients group, whereas scarcely in control sera. By contrast, two other antigens identified as cytokeratins 8 and 18, as well as, F1-actin were found to elicit humoral immune responses in both control and breast cancer patients' sera.

CONCLUSIONS:

The immunoproteomic approach implemented here offers a powerful tool for determining novel tumor antigens that elicit a humoral immune response in patients with invasive breast cancer. These antigens and/or their 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: Bechr Hamrita, Karim Chahed, Maria Kabbage, Christelle Lemaitre Guillier, Mounir Trimeche, Anouar Chaïeb, Lotfi Chouchane
• Journal: Clinica chimica acta; international journal of clinical chemistry (Clin Chim Acta) Vol. 393 Issue 2 Pg. 95-102 (Jul 17 2008) ISSN: 0009-8981 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 18424265 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Neoplasm
• Antigens, Neoplasm
• Blood Proteins
• Proteome

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Amino Acid Sequence
• Antibodies, Neoplasm (biosynthesis)
• Antigens, Neoplasm (immunology)
• Blood Proteins (chemistry, metabolism)
• Breast Neoplasms (blood, immunology)
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional
• Female
• Humans
• Immunohistochemistry
• Middle Aged
• Molecular Sequence Data
• Proteome
• Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization