Identification of a tumour associated antigen in lung cancer patients with asbestos exposure.

BACKGROUND This study analysed the humoral immune response in asbestos exposed lung cancer patients to identify new surrogate markers of the carcinogenic risk in populations exposed to asbestos. METHODS AND RESULTS A serological analysis identified five distinct antigens reactive with IgG derived from a lung cancer patient with high asbestos exposure. In one of the isolated antigens, quantitative RT-PCR indicated that annexin A2 (AnxA2) was overexpressed in lung cancer tissues and normal lung from patients with high asbestos exposure. Antibody against AnxA2 was detected in 9/15 (60%) of lung cancer patients with high asbestos exposure; however, in only 1/12 (8%) of lung cancer patients with low asbestos exposure. AnxA2 was also overexpressed in malignant mesothelioma cells, and the antibody was also positive in 8/15 (53%) of patients with malignant mesothelioma. CONCLUSION The antibody titer against AnxA2 may be a potentially useful new diagnostic surrogate marker for asbestos-related lung cancer and malignant mesothelioma.