Humoral p53 antibody response is a prognostic parameter in ovarian cancer

Background: Mutant p53 protein may become the target of a tumor-specific hu moral and cellular immune response. Material and Methods: We used a specifi c qualitative p53 antibody ELISA to investigate serum samples of 33 patient s with ovarian cancer taken prior to therapy. Additionally, we sought to ev aluate whether p53 antibodies are also present in the sera of 17 patients w ith benign ovarian tumors. Results: p53 antibodies were detected in 36% of serum samples. There was a statisically significant association between p53 serum antibody response and poor overall survival (p<0.006). No significan t associations were found between p53 antibody status and histological type , histological grade, and tumor stage. In 81% of serum samples, no changes front p53 antibody negativity to positivity or vice versa during follow-rip were observed. p53 antibodies were also detected in the sera of 18% of pat ients with benign ovarian tumors. Conclusions: The results of this prelimin ary study suggest that a p53 antibody response in patients with ovarian can cer is associated with poor prognosis. A qualitative method of p53 antibody detection cannot be used to monitor the clinical course of ovarian cancer.