Detecting tumor-specific autoantibodies for cancer diagnosis: a technology overview

Background: Studies on the autoantibody (humoral immune) response to tumor-associated aberrant cellular components have provided critical information about an individual's disease state. Tumor-specific autoantibodies detected in human serum samples are being studied extensively to determine their utility in developing serological diagnostic assays for cancer. The development of accurate panels of diagnostic markers for cancer detection is now being pursued using new technologies and tailored computational methods capable of analyzing data generated from large-scale biomarker discovery projects. Objective: In this technical overview, current methodologies being applied to the identification and characterization of tumor-specific autoantibodies in cancer patients' sera are reviewed. Methods: A variety of research approaches are presented that are now being used or have the potential to evaluate large numbers of patient sera for the presence of tumor-specific autoantibodies. Each approach is discussed regarding its primary attributes (advantages and limitations) that could lead to serological diagnostic assays for the early detection of cancer. Conclusion: Preliminary results in the development of serological diagnostic assays have demonstrated that the basic experimental tools to accomplish this goal exist. In the future, autoantibody patterns against tumor-specific proteins may achieve high specificity and sensitivity for diagnosing disease in screening populations. The development of highly accurate reliable assays is a prerequisite for this technology to be integrated into clinically applicable strategies in patient care.