Proteomics-based identification of protein gene product 9.5 as a tumor antigen that induces a humoral immune response in lung cancer

We used a proteomic approach to identify proteins that commonly induce an a ntibody response in lung cancer. Sera from 64 newly diagnosed patients with lung cancer, 99 patients with other types of cancer, and 71 noncancer cont rols were analyzed for antibody-based reactivity against lung adenocarcinom a proteins resolved by two-dimensional PAGE. Unlike controls, autoantibodie s against a protein identified by mass spectrometry as protein gene product 9.5 (PGP 9.5) were detected in sera from 9 of 64 patients with lung cancer . Circulating PGP 9.5 antigen was detected in sera from two additional pati ents with lung cancer, without detectable PGP 9.5 autoantibodies. PGP 9.5 i s a neurospecific polypeptide previously proposed as a marker for non-small cell lung cancer, based on its expression in tumor tissue. Using A549 lung adenocarcinoma cell line, we have demonstrated that PGP 9.5 was present at the cell surface, as well as secreted. Thus, the findings of PGP 9.5 antig en and/or antibodies in serum of patients with lung cancer suggest that PGP 9.5 may have utility in lung cancer screening and diagnosis.