A variety of diagnostic and therapeutic strategies are being explored to change poor outcomes in lung cancer. Tumor markers, measured in peripheral blood, could complement the evolving clinical approach to lung cancer management. Autoantibodies to tumor-associated proteins may effectively expand the number and range of available serologic markers for lung cancer and be translated into a valuable test for lung cancer. Our preliminary data supports this hypothesis. We used phage-display and biopan techniques to identify multiple autoantibodies to known and unknown tumor-associated proteins in the serum of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Using conventional immunochemical techniques and novel protein microarray we showed that autoantibodies to individual tumor-associated proteins are found in cancer patient sera and not in normals. Because no single antibody response is likely to be a comprehensive marker, we intend to build on these exciting data and develop an inclusive blood test for lung cancer by profiling sera for a variety of atuoantibodies. We have already identified 21 proteins recognized by autoantibodies in NSCLC patient sera and using these, plus additional proteins identified with these techniques; we will generate a comprehensive a panel of proteins used for antibody measurement. Fluorescent microarray technology, applied generally to gene discovery, is ideal for this purpose. Thus the primary goal of this proposal is to develop a novel blood test for NSCLC. To begin to expand the clinical relevance of this approach, a secondary goal is to show the association of autoantibody responses to tumor protein expression. The data shows feasibility and proof of concept that supports the rationale behind this proposal.
