The present invention relates to a method for identification of
cellular protein antigens to which patients with
cancer, or patients at risk for
cancer, may develop autoantibodies. The method of the invention involves the use of patient derived sera for the identification of the
cellular protein antigens using two-dimensional
gel electrophoresis followed by
Western Blot analysis. The identification of such
protein antigens provides novel markers that can be utilized for screening, for diagnostics and prognosis of
disease. The invention also provides for the use of the identified
protein antigens in immunoassays designed to detect the presence of serum antibodies to the
specific protein antigens in sera from individuals that may harbor such antibodies. The invention further relates to the use of the identified antigens as immunogens for stimulation of an immune response in patients expressing such
protein antigens. The invention is demonstrated by way of example in which elevated levels of circulating autoantibodies reactive against a
tumor specific antigen were identified in sera derived from a
lung cancer patient. In addition, elevated levels of circulating autoantibodies reactive against several specific beta-
tubulin isoforms were detected in the sera of
neuroblastoma patients.