Tumour Antigens Recognised by Antibodies

Abstract

Abstract Humoral and cellular immune responses to tumour antigens occur during tumourigenesis. Since 1965, there has been an ongoing search for cancer‐specific antibodies as these have potential applications as specific diagnostic and therapeutic tools. Serum antibodies from cancer patients have been used to identify hundreds of tumour antigens. Owing to the biochemical heterogeneity of tumours, even of the same type, each patient has a slightly different repertoire of autoantibodies. However, there is an overall characteristic polyclonal signature for specific tumour types. Thus, multi‐antigen assays to detect cancer signatures are in development as diagnostic tests. For antigen‐targeted therapy, monoclonal antibodies to individual antigens have been produced and some are FDA approved for cancer treatment. Key Concepts Autoantibodies against aberrant or overexpressed tumour antigens are induced during tumour development. Tumour‐associated autoantibodies have potential for cancer diagnosis and prognosis. Individual autoantibodies have a relatively low sensitivity while multiplex antigen arrays that detect multiple autoantibodies provide a higher specificity and sensitivity for tumour detection. Serum autoantibodies have been useful in identifying tumour antigens that can be used to characterise tumours and as therapeutic targets. Monoclonal antibodies against specific tumour antigens can be produced in the laboratory. Multiple monoclonal antibodies produced against cancer‐specific antigens have been FDA approved for cancer therapy.