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SHR Neuro Cancer Cardio Lipid Metab Microb
Fensterle, J; Becker, JC; Potapenko, T; Heimbach, V; Vetter, CS; Brocker, EB; Rapp, UR.
B-Raf specific antibody responses in melanoma patients
BMC CANCER. 2004; 4:
Doi: 10.1186/1471-2407-4-62
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- Co-authors Med Uni Graz
- Becker Jürgen Christian
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- Abstract:
- Background: Mutations of the BRAF gene are the most common genetic alteration in melanoma. Moreover, BRAF mutations are already present in benign nevi. Being overexpressed and mutated, B-Raf is a potential target for the immune system and as this mutation seems to be an early event, a humoral immune response against this antigen might serve as a diagnostic tool for detection of high risk patients. Methods: 372 sera of 148 stage IV melanoma patients and 119 sera of non-melanoma patients were screened for B-Raf, B-Raf V599E and C-Raf specific antibodies by an ELISA assay. Sera were screened for specific total Ig and for IgG. Serum titers were compared with a two tailed Mann-Whitney U test. Sera with titers of 1: 300 or higher were termed positive and groups were compared with a two tailed Fisher's exact test. Results: B-Raf specific antibodies recognizing both B-Raf and B-Raf V599E were detected in 8.9% of the sera of melanoma patients and in 2,5% of the control group. Raf specific IgG was detected in some patients at very low levels. B-Raf specific antibody responses did not correlate with clinical parameters but in some cases, B-Raf antibodies emerged during disease progression. Conclusion: These findings imply that B-Raf is immunogenic in melanoma patients and that it might serve as a potential target for immunotherapy. However, B-Raf specific antibodies emerge at rather late stages of melanoma progression and are present only with a low frequency indicating that spontaneous B-Raf specific antibodies are not an early marker for melanoma, but rather may serve as a therapeutic target.