Identification of novel autoantibodies based on the protein chip encoded by cancer-driving genes in detection of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Oncoimmunology. 2020 Sep 9;9(1):1814515. doi: 10.1080/2162402X.2020.1814515.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify novel autoantibodies against tumor-associated antigens (TAAbs) and explore the optimal diagnosis model based on the protein chip for detecting esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). The human protein chip based on cancer-driving genes was customized to discover candidate TAAbs. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was applied to verify and validate the expression levels of candidate TAAbs in the training cohort (130 ESCC and 130 normal controls) and the validation cohort (125 ESCC and 125 normal controls). Logistic regression analysis was adopted to construct the diagnostic model based on the expression levels of autoantibodies with diagnostic value. Twelve candidate autoantibodies were identified based on the protein chip according to the corresponding statistical methods. In both the training cohort and validation cohort, the expression levels of 10 TAAbs (GNA11, PTEN, P53, SRSF2, GNAS, ACVR1B, CASP8, DAXX, PDGFRA, and MEN1) in ESCC patients were higher than that in normal controls. The panel consisting of GNA11, ACVR1B and P53 demonstrated favorable diagnostic power. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of the model in the train cohort and the validation cohort were 71.5%, 93.8%, 79.6% and 77.6%, 81.6%, 70.8%, respectively. In either cohort, there was no correlation between positive rate of the autoantibody panel and clinicopathologic features for ESCC patients. Protein chip technology is an effective method to identify novel TAAbs, and the panel of 3 TAAbs (GNA11, ACVR1B, and P53) is promising for distinguishing ESCC patients from normal individuals.

Keywords: Protein chip; autoantibodies; cancer-driving genes; detection; esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Autoantibodies
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* / diagnosis
  • Esophageal Neoplasms* / diagnosis
  • Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma* / genetics
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms*
  • Humans
  • Protein Array Analysis

Substances

  • Autoantibodies
  • Biomarkers, Tumor

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the Key Project of Tackling Key Problems in Science and Technology of Henan Province [192102310042]; the Program of Natural Science Foundation of Henan Province [182300410009];Zhengzhou Major Project for Collaborative Innovation (Zhengzhou university) (18XTZX12007), the National Science and Technology Major Project of China (2018ZX10302205), and the Major Project of Science and Technology in Henan Province (161100311400).