Identification of tumor-associated antigens by using SEREX in hepatocellular carcinoma

AimTo identify biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).MethodsScreening the HCC cDNA library with HCC patients sera. Isolated proteins were used as antigens to detect antibodies from patients with HCC and control sera.ResultsEighty-one positive clones were identified. The frequencies of autoantibody against five HCC-associated antigens were higher in HCC than that in chronic hepatitis and normal human sera. The sensitivity and specificity of KRT23, AHSG and FTL antigens combination tests up to 98.2% in joint test and 90.0% in series test separately.ConclusionsHCC associate antigens identified from this study supply candidate markers of diagnosis, combined detection and immunotherapy of HCC.