Analysis of antibodies to p16(INK4A) tumor suppressor gene products in lung cancer patients

We examined by immunoblotting antibodies that bind to p16(INK4A) tumor supp ressor gene products in the sera of patients with lung cancer. Sera from 15 to 102 patients, including 6 with adenocarcinoma, 3 with squamous cell car cinoma, 2 with large cell carcinoma and 4 with small cell carcinoma, reacte d with a glutathione-S-transferase (GST) fusion protein containing whole hu man anti-p16(INK4A), produced by Escherichia coli. However, sera from 30 no rmal volunteers did not react with the GST-p16(INK4A) fusion protein. The b ackground such as age, gender, performance status, histology, stage, smokin g history, and prior treatment was not significantly different between the patients with and without anti-GST-p16(INK4A) antibodies. Circulating p16(I NK4A) tumor suppressor products were not detected in any individuals with l ung cancer or in the normal controls.