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Hu and Voltage-Gated Calcium Channel (VGCC) Antibodies Related to the Prognosis of Small-Cell Lung Cancer

From the Department of Neurology, Haukeland University Hospital, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Department of Oncology and Hematology, Næstved Hospital, Næstved, Denmark; and Neurosciences Group, Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom.

Address reprint requests to S.E. Monstad, MSc, Department of Neurology, 200301028, Haukeland University Hospital, Jonas Liesvei 65, Bergen 5021, Norway; e-mail: sissel.monstad{at}helse-vest.no

PURPOSE: Hu antibodies previously have been associated with longer survival of patients with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). Voltage-gated calcium channel (VGCC) antibodies play a pathogenic role in Lambert Eaton myasthenic syndrome, which is also associated with SCLC. These antibodies may reduce tumor growth in patients with the neurologic disease, but it is not clear whether they provide prognostic information in those without neurologic symptoms.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Two hundred patients with SCLC (age 39 to 79 years; mean, 62.3 years; 129 males and 71 females) receiving chemotherapy were studied for the presence of Hu and VGCC antibodies. Sera were examined for Hu antibodies by an in vitro transcription-translation–based immunoprecipitation technique and by immunohistochemistry/dot blot. VGCC (P/Q subtype) antibodies were detected by radioimmunoassay. Survival analysis was used to analyze the data.

RESULTS: Hu antibodies were detected in 51 of 200 patients (25.5%) by in vitro transcription-translation–based immunoprecipitation and in 37 of 200 patients (18.5%) by immunohistochemistry or dot blot, whereas VGCC antibodies were detected in only 10 of 200 patients (5%). The presence of Hu antibodies did not correlate with VGCC antibodies, and there was no association between Hu or VGCC antibodies and the extent of disease or survival.

CONCLUSION: Hu and VGCC antibodies are found in a proportion of SCLC patients, irrespective of neurologic symptoms, but their presence does not correlate with the prognosis of the SCLC.

Authors' disclosures of potential conflicts of interest are found at the end of this article.

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