Sera from 130 ovarian cancer patients and from 118 normal control volunteers were assayed for serum autoantibodies to p53 using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Overall, autoantibodies were detected in 41% of ovarian cancer patients as compared to 0.9% of healthy individuals (P<0.001). The incidence of autoantibodies was lower in patients with complete remission (20%) as compared to those with recurrence (48%, P<0.01) and before primary surgery (49%, P<0.05). There was no statistically significant correlation between p53 serum autoantibody status and tumor stage, degree of malignancy and histological subtype. Comparing the autoantibody status with p53 antigen expression in the corresponding tissue resulted in 57% consistent results. Thus, serological testing for p53 autoantibodies provides additional information and may be associated with the disease status in patients with ovarian cancer.

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