Pre-diagnostic circulating p53 autoantibodies and subsequent lung cancer risk in low-income African and European Americans

Abstract

Introduction

Mutations of the TP53 gene lead to the production of autoantibodies against p53, a major tumor suppressor protein. Although studies have indicated the association of p53 autoantibodies with human cancers, epidemiologic evidence on lung cancer is still lacking.

Methods

In this nested case-control study conducted within the Southern Community Cohort Study, we investigated the association of circulating p53 autoantibodies with the subsequent risk of developing lung cancer. Using blood samples collected prior to any cancer diagnosis from 295 cases and their individually matched controls, seroreactivity to p53 was assessed by fluorescent bead-based multiplex serology. Conditional logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95 % confidence intervals (CI) for lung cancer risk associated with p53 autoantibodies.

Results

After adjustment for potential confounders, p53 seropositivity was significantly associated with an increased risk of lung cancer (OR=2.98, 95 % CI: 1.10–8.06) among African Americans, but not among European Americans (OR=1.21, 95 % CI: 0.24–6.15). The positive associations were restricted to men (OR=4.59, 95 % CI: 1.30–16.16) and participants with a short interval (≤ 4 years) from blood collection to diagnosis (OR=4.30, 95 % CI: 1.33–13.89).

Conclusion

Our findings add to the evidence supporting p53 autoantibodies as a biomarker of lung cancer.

Highlights

• • Epidemiologic evidence between p53 autoantibodies and lung cancer is still lacking.
• • p53 autoantibodies was associated with lung cancer risk among African Americans.
• • p53 autoantibodies was associated with lung cancer risk within 4 years development.
• • p53 autoantibodies could be useful biomarker for lung cancer early detection.