Prognostic significance of autoantibodies to laminin in the sera of breast cancer patients: a preliminary report.

Interactions between cancer cells and laminin play an important role in the metastatic cascade. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the presence and the prognostic significance of autoantibodies to laminin in sera of patients with breast cancer. Our study population consisted of 71 high-risk primary breast cancer patients (median follow-up, 6 years). IgG, IgA and IgM were analysed at the time of surgery and before any treatment was given. Concentrations were measured by enzyme immunoassay with a highly purified antigen. IgG, IgA and IgM anti-laminin median values were, respectively 117%, 130% and 97% of normal absorbance. Higher concentrations of IgM to laminin were found in pre-menopausal patients as compared with post-menopausal patients (p < 0.001). Patients with high concentrations of IgG to laminin had lower disease-free (p = 0.003) and overall survival rates (p = 0.003). In breast cancer, assay of IgG to laminin could thus provide a cheap and easy prognostic index available for all patients.