Anti‐Tumor Antibodies in Ovarian Cancer

Abstract

Anti-tumor antibodies have potential as cancer biomarkers. There is relatively limited identification of anti-tumor antibodies in response to ovarian cancer, compared with studies for other cancers. There is also very limited information on the prevalence of anti-tumor antibodies among ovarian cancer patients. Although most anti-tumor antibodies react with antigens common to both tumor and normal tissue, the anti-tumor response tends to be confined to individuals with ovarian cancer, similar to other cancers. Antibodies to HOXA7, a differentiation antigen, have the highest reported prevalence in ovarian cancer (67%). Antibodies to other ubiquitous antigens including NY-ESO-1, Ep-CAM (epithelial cell adhesion molecule), HSP-90 (heat shock protein 90), and mutated p53 have been identified in ovarian cancer. Anti-tumor antibody specificity reflects the heterogeneity of antigen expression in tumors. Tests based on panels of a combination of anti-tumor antibodies may be more predictive for ovarian cancer, as no single specificity accounts for ovarian tumors. In addition to characterization of anti-tumor antibodies as diagnostic markers, study of anti-tumor antibodies is likely to provide insights into mechanisms of tumor development. There is evidence of antibodies to tumor antigens and of activated T cells, suggesting immune recognition of tumor antigens occurred. Nonetheless, as tumors are not 'rejected', it is likely that there are alterations in the immune system. The basis for tumor growth in the face of immune activity remains to be determined.

Anti-Mesothelin Antibodies and Circulating Mesothelin Relate to the Clinical State in Ovarian Cancer Patients

“…Anti-MUC1 antibodies have been reported to be more frequent in healthy women with characteristics associated with a decreased risk of developing ovarian carcinoma (12). In contrast, the demonstration of antibodies to certain other antigens that are expressed by both ovarian carcinoma and normal ovaries has led to the hypothesis that autoimmune disease of the ovary can be an early harbinger of potential ovarian carcinoma (13,14 ).…”

IgE-Antibody-Dependent Immunotherapy of Solid Tumors: Cytotoxic and Phagocytic Mechanisms of Eradication of Ovarian Cancer Cells

“…It causes no symptoms in the early stages, and is essentially incurable in the late stages of the disease; around 50 -60% of patients die within 5 years (1, 2). Ovarian cancer is intractable to current chemotherapies, but immunotherapies using IgG Abs currently in clinical trials are showing some promising results (3)(4)(5)(6).…”

“…However, non-IgG isotypes have never been tried in cancer patients. IgG Abs are now increasingly being used for the treatment of blood malignancies, but "solid" tumors are often refractory (3)(4)(5). Probable reasons are diffusional barrier of tissues, slow recruitment of effector cells, and low affinity of IgG for its receptors (8 -10).…”

“…CD23b expression is induced by IL-4 on a wide range of hemopoietic cells, including monocytes (42,43) and has been shown to act in IgE Ab-dependent phagocytosis (ADCP) 4 of hapten-coated red cells (44). The nearest IgG receptor homologue to FcRI is Fc␥RIII, which acts in IgG Ab-dependent T cell-, NK cell-, and macrophage-mediated tumor cell cytotoxicity (Ab-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity, ADCC) (9,10,45).…”

Ovarian cancer: Origin and factors involved in carcinogenesis with potential use in diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of the disease

“…Promising biomarkers include family of serine proteases, i.e. kallikreins (KLKs), further interleukins (ILs), glycoproteins (osteopontin, CA-125), or antitumor antibodies [77,78,79]. Also roles of B7-H4 (expressed in activated T-cells), spondin 2 (extracellular matrix protein) and DcR3 (tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily) have been investigated previously [80], and lamin A (nuclear membrane organisation), SSRP1 and IRF6 (regulation of trascription), RALBP1 (transport), FUSIP1 (RNA splicing), CBLB (signal transduction), TADA3l (regulation of cell cycle) have been shown to express different pattern in sera [81].…”