Association of IgA-anti-Fab autoantibodies with disease stage in head-and-neck cancer

• Published in: International journal of cancer Vol. 57; no. 1; p. 47
• Main Authors: Süsal, C, Maier, H, Lorenz, K, Opelz, G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.04.1994
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Autoantibodies - blood; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic - blood; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic - immunology; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - blood; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - immunology; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Female; Head and Neck Neoplasms - blood; Head and Neck Neoplasms - immunology; Humans; Immunoglobulin A - blood; Immunoglobulin A - chemistry; Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments - blood; Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments - immunology; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Staging
• ISSN: 0020-7136; 1097-0215
• DOI: 10.1002/ijc.2910570109

Patients with head-and-neck cancer commonly have immune defects. It was reported that these patients have raised serum IgA levels. We investigated whether IgA-anti-Fab autoantibodies, which occur in association with immune dysfunction, are present in patients with head-and-neck cancer. Sera of 101 patients with squamous-cell carcinoma (SCCHN) and 8 patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACCHN) of the head and neck were tested in ELISA for IgA-anti-Fab autoantibody activity. IgA-anti-Fab serum activity was significantly higher in both SCCHN and ACCHN patients than in healthy controls. In patients with SCCHN, an association between disease stage and IgA-anti-Fab activity was established. Stage-IV patients had significantly higher IgA-anti-Fab than stage-I patients or healthy controls. Stage-II and stage-III patients had intermediate levels. Extremely high IgA-anti-Fab activity was observed in 7 patients who died within 6 months following testing, suggesting a relationship of autoimmunity with terminal disintegration of physiological body functions. IgA-anti-Fab autoantibodies may explain the occurrence of immune defects in patients with head-and-neck cancer.