Tumor autoantibodies as biomarkers for predicting ovarian cancer recurrence

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Chatterjee, Madhumita^{a; g; 1} | Dyson, Greg^{c; 1} | Levin, Nancy K.^{a; g} | Shah, Jay P.^d | Morris, Robert^e | Munkarah, Adnan^{e; f} | Tainsky, Michael A.^{a; b; g; *}

Affiliations: [a] Program in Molecular Biology and Genetics, Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI, USA | [b] Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA | [c] Biostatistics Core, Department of Oncology Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA | [d] Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Southern California Permanente Medical Group, Irvine, CA, USA | [e] Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA | [f] Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Henry Ford Health System, Department of Women's Health Services, Detroit, MI, USA | [g] Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: Michael A. Tainsky, Program in Molecular Biology and Genetics, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, 110 E. Warren, Prentis 3115, Detroit, MI 48201-3917, USA. Tel.: +1 313 578 4340; Fax: +1 313 832 7294; E-mail: [email protected].

Note: [1] Both should be considered first authors.

Abstract: Ovarian cancer (OVCA) has a high incidence of recurrence and a high rate of mortality. We performed a pilot study to evaluate the usefulness of tumor autoantibodies to tumor associated antigens (TAA) to predict OVCA recurrence. A validation study with 56 antigens, previously identified in the initial phase of the study, along with 13 known tumor antigens on protein arrays was performed on an independent cohort of recurrent and non-recurrent OVCA patients. Statistical analyses revealed that a panel of 3 antigens predicted recurrence at a median time of 9.07 months prior to clinical recurrence in a study population, where majority of patients had CA125 values less than 35 U/ml, with an average sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of 94.7%, 86.7% and 93.3% respectively. One of the top 3 antigens has been associated with the development of polymyositis (PM) which has been shown in some cases to precede the occurrence of ovarian carcinoma. Our results indicate that these 3 antigens have potential for predicting recurrence at an early time and may have better prognostic utility than CA125 alone for early therapeutic intervention. These biomarkers could guide us to identify those patients that could benefit most from maintenance or consolidation therapy.

Keywords: Ovarian cancer, recurrence, humoral immune response, tumor autoantibodies, protein arrays

DOI: 10.3233/CBM-2012-0265

Journal: Cancer Biomarkers, vol. 11, no. 2-3, pp. 59-73, 2012