ASSOCIATION OF SERUM AUTOANTIBODIES TO TUMOR-SUPPRESSOR GENE P53 IN PATIENTS WITH OVARIAN-CANCER ACCORDING TO STATUS OF THE DISEASE

Sera from 130 ovarian cancer patients and from 118 normal control volu nteers were assayed for serum autoantibodies to p53 using an enzyme-li nked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Overall, autoantibodies were detecte d in 41% of ovarian cancer patients as compared to 0.9% of healthy ind ividuals (P<0.001). The incidence of autoantibodies was lower in patie nts with complete remission (20%) as compared to those with recurrence (48%, P<0.01) and before primary surgery (49%, P<0.05). There was no statistically significant correlation between p53 serum autoantibody s tatus and tumor stage, degree of malignancy and histological subtype. Comparing the autoantibody status with p53 antigen expression in the c orresponding tissue resulted in 57% consistent results. Thus, serologi cal testing for p53 autoantibodies provides additional information and may be associated with the disease status in patients with ovarian ca ncer.