Alteration of autoantibodies against p53 in Taiwanese lung cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy

Paradoxical Reductions in Serum Anti-p53 Autoantibody Levels by Chemotherapy in Unresectable Colorectal Cancer: An Observational Study

OBJECTIVE

The anti-p53 autoantibody is an emerging tumor marker that is commonly produced in response to p53 mutations. The usefulness of this antibody has been suggested in screening for and the monitoring of recurrence in colorectal cancer; however, its significance as a marker during chemotherapy remains largely unknown.

METHODS

We measured serum anti-p53 antibody levels in patients with unresectable colorectal cancer who underwent first-line systemic chemotherapy. Tumor responses were evaluated by computed tomography. We determined whether temporal changes in this antibody during therapy are associated with radiological responses.

RESULTS

Of the 83 patients in our study, 29 (35%) had elevated serum anti-p53 antibody levels before chemotherapy. Among these, antibody levels decreased in all 14 responders. In contrast, among those patients with elevated pretherapeutic serum anti-p53 antibody levels, 89% showed a paradoxical decrease in antibody levels and exhibited disease progression after chemotherapy. Moreover, serum anti-p53 antibody levels before and after chemotherapy were not associated with survival.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that serum anti-p53 antibody levels are of limited value in the evaluation of responses to palliative chemotherapy in patients with colorectal cancer.

Prognostic implications of circulating anti-p53 antibodies in lung cancer--a review

Many independent prognostic markers have been identified for predicting survival and helping in the management of lung cancer cases. p53 protein overexpression and mutation have been the topic of numerous such publications. However, little is known about the role of anti-p53 antibodies as a prognostic marker in lung cancer. We searched the MEDLINE database and the bibliographies of the retrieved manuscripts and reviews. The retrieved studies are grouped according to the cohort studied. Out of 179 citations retrieved, 17 met our criteria. Seven studies used only non-small-cell lung cancer; four studies used only small-cell lung cancer; and six studies used the mixed cohort of both types of lung cancer. The studies varied in the concept design, cohort studied and the methodology. The prognostic role of anti-p53 antibodies in lung cancer remains contradictory and as some studies show an association with poor prognosis, others show a favourable association and still others showing no association what so ever. The frequency of detection of anti-p53 antibody is very low, highly specific with result being independent of the cohort studied. Adequate clinical trials, with optimized cohort, antigen and assay validation, are needed to address patients and physician's concerns regarding these associations.

Oncogene and tumor-suppressor gene products as serum biomarkers in occupational-derived lung cancer

Since lung cancer is the most frequent occupational cancer and one of the leading causes of cancer mortality in the world, it is one of the biggest challenges for research. In the literature, there are inconsistent results regarding the utility of the serum biomarkers p53, anti-p53 antibodies, EGF receptor or Ras. Based on the published results, routine use of these biomarkers for detection of occupationally derived lung carcinomas is not currently recommended. In this review, we summarize the literature and discuss the relevance of these oncogene and tumor-suppressor gene products as serum biomarkers in occupational-derived lung cancer.