Humoral immune response to p21(WAF1/CIP1) tumor patients, non-tumorous patients and healthy blood donors

We performed a serological analysis for anti-p21(WAF1/CIP1) antibodies in s era of patients with different gynecological diseases such as breast cancer , ovarian carcinoma, cervix carcinoma and benign gynecological tissue alter ations and from healthy blood donors using the immunoblotting technique wit h recombinant p21(WAF1/CIP1) as antigen as well as a newly designed ELISA. We detected antibodies specific for p21(WAF1/CIP1) in sera derived from can cer patients, as well as from patients with non-malignant diseases and from healthy blood donors. Thus, the presence of antibodies against p21(WAF1/CI P1), not a marker for malignancies. Some of the sera with antibodies agains t p21(WAF1/CIP1) also contained antibodies against the oncoprotein mdm2, an d/or the growth suppressor gene product p53. The presence of antibodies aga inst p53 correlates with a malignant disease. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ire land Ltd. All rights reserved.