Abstract

Background

Autoantibodies against numbers of tumour-associated antigens (TAAs) were shown to be relevant tumor biomarkers and can be detected up to 5 years before the tumour is overt clinically. Early diagnosis of cancer is paramount to improved survival by enabling treatment prior to cancer spreading, when tumours should be both surgically removable and curable. The NHS in Scotland is currently carrying out a RCT (ECLS) involving 12,000 individuals at high risk of developing lung cancer being randomised to having (or not) an autoantibody ELISA blood test (EarlyCDT-Lung®) - followed by CT scans over 2 years follow-up in those individuals with a positive test - for early lung cancer detection.

We are aiming to develop a blood test enabling the early detection of breast cancer to significantly improve clinical outcome.

Method

In this pilot study, 180 breast cancer matched control samples were screened for the presence of autoantibodies against 67 TAAs which have already been shown to involve in breast cancer pathology. Optimised Protein microarray technology was applied for this study.

Results

The results confirmed our hypothesis that BC induce autoantibodies (AAbs) against different panels of specific tumour associated antigens (TAAs) used in the pilot study. The assay provided cancer/control discrimination through detection of AAbs against TAAs.

Conclusion

We identified antigen panels of sufficient sensitivity and specificity for early detection of BC based upon serum profiling of autoantibody response. This opens the possibility of a blood test for screening and detection of breast cancer.