CENP-B specific anti-centromere autoantibodies heralding small-cell lung cancer - A case study and review of the literature

We report on a small-cell lung cancer case that was heralded by the presence of CENP-B specific anti-centromere autoantibodies (ACA) detected well before the diagnosis of cancer. The patient received chemotherapy plus radiotherapy, which resulted in complete remission of the tumor. Serum ACA levels were zeroed at the time of radiological documentation of tumor response and remained undetected at serial follow-up assessments until they rose again along with documentation of tumor recurrence which occurred 12 months later. We review in brief published research and discuss anti-centromere autoantibodies as potential biomarkers in small-cell lung cancer, a highly proliferative tumor which lacks sensitive serum markers. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.