The value of specific neuronal anti-Hu antibody in the early diagnosis of small cell lung cancer

Objective: To evaluate the value of specific neuronal anti-Hu antibody in the early diagnosis of small cell lung cancer (SCLC).

Methods: Ninety-eight patients with SCLC were included in the study. Specific neuronal anti-Hu antibody was detected by immunohistochemistry (the ABC method) and Western blot.

Results: The sera from 40% (32/80) of the patients in group A (without paraneoplastic syndrome of the nervous system) reacted with the frozen sections of human cerebra and were stained by indirect immunoperoxidase method at final dilutions of 1:1,000 to 1:8,000, while the sera from 89% of the patients (16/18) in group B (with paraneoplastic syndrome of the nervous system) reacted at final dilutions of 1:1,000 to 1:64,000. Western blot analysis revealed that the specific neuronal anti-Hu antibody was identified at several bands of approximately 35,000 approximately 40,000 with nuclear extracts, and at 40,000 with HuD clonal protein. The anti-Hu antibody was detected in only two patients from group A, but in 16 patients from group B. The antibody was not detected in sera from 32 normal human subjects.

Conclusions: Specific neuronal anti-Hu antibody at high titers was detected in patients with SCLC not complicated with paraneoplastic syndrome of the nervous system. This antibody may be useful in the early diagnosis of SCLC.