Patterns of antibody responses to nonviral cancer antigens in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients differ by human papillomavirus status.

There have been hints that nonviral cancer antigens are differentially expressed in human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive and HPV-negative head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Antibody responses (AR) to cancer antigens may be used to indirectly determine cancer antigen expression in the tumor using a noninvasive and tissue-saving liquid biopsy. Here, we set out to characterize AR to a panel of nonviral cancer antigens in HPV-positive and HPV-negative HNSCC patients. A fluorescent microbead multiplex serology to 29 cancer antigens (16 cancer-testis antigens, 5 cancer-retina antigens and 8 oncogenes) and 29 HPV-antigens was performed in 382 HNSCC patients from five independent cohorts (153 HPV-positive and 209 HPV-negative). AR to any of the cancer antigens were found in 272/382 patients (72%). The ten most frequent AR were CT47, cTAGE5a, c-myc, LAGE-1, MAGE-A1, -A3, -A4, NY-ESO-1, SpanX-a1 and p53. AR to MAGE-A3, MAGE-A9 and p53 were found at significantly different prevalences by HPV status. An analysis of AR mean fluorescent intensity values uncovered remarkably different AR clusters by HPV status. To identify optimal antigen selections covering a maximum of patients with ≤10 AR, multiobjective optimization revealed distinct antigen selections by HPV status. We identified that AR to nonviral antigens differ by HPV status indicating differential antigen expression. Multiplex serology may be used to characterize antigen expression using serum or plasma as a tissue-sparing liquid biopsy. Cancer antigen panels should address the distinct antigen repertoire of HPV-positive and HPV-negative HNSCC.

Antibody Responses to Cancer Antigens Identify Patients with a Poor Prognosis among HPV-Positive and HPV-Negative Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients.

PURPOSE: The identification of high-risk patients within human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive and -negative head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is needed for improved treatment and surveillance strategies. In this study, we set out to discover antibody responses (AR) with prognostic impact in HNSCC stratified by HPV status. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: A fluorescent bead-based multiplex serology assay on 29 cancer antigens (16 cancer-testis antigens, 5 cancer-retina antigens, and 8 oncogenes) and 29 HPV antigens was performed in samples of 362 patients with HNSCC from five independent cohorts (153 HPV positive, 209 HPV negative). A multivariable Cox proportional hazard model with bootstrapping (M = 1000) was used for validation of prognostic antibody responses. RESULTS: Antibody response to any of the cancer antigens was found in 257 of 362 patients (71%). In HPV-negative patients, antibody responses to c-myc, MAGE-A1, -A4, and Rhodopsin E2 (combined as ARhigh risk) were significantly associated with shorter overall survival. In HPV-positive patients, antibody responses to IMP-1 were discovered as a negative prognostic factor. ARhigh risk (HR = 1.76) and antibody responses to IMP-1 (HR = 3.28) were confirmed as independent markers for a poor prognosis in a multivariable Cox proportional hazard model with bootstrapping (M = 1000). CONCLUSIONS: We identified antibody responses to cancer antigens that associate with a dismal prognosis in patients with HNSCC beyond HPV-positive status. ARhigh risk may be used to detect HPV-negative patients with an extraordinarily bad prognosis. Most importantly, antibody response to IMP-1 may serve as a marker for a subgroup of HPV-positive patients who present with a poor prognosis similar to that in HPV-negative patients.