Humoral response against heat shock proteins and other mycobacterial antigens after intravesical treatment with bacille Calmette–Guérin (BCG) in patients with superficial bladder cancer

• Published in: Clinical and experimental immunology Vol. 109; no. 1; pp. 157 - 165
• Main Authors: ZLOTTA, A. R., DROWART, A., HUYGEN, K., DE BRUYN, J., SHEKARSARAI, H., DECOCK, M., PIRSON, M., JURION, F., PALFLIET, K., DENIS, O., MASCART, F., SIMON, J., SCHULMAN, C. C., VAN VOOREN, J. P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford UK Blackwell Science Ltd 01-07-1997; Blackwell; Blackwell Science Inc
• Subjects: Administration, Intravesical; Aged; Antibodies, Bacterial - biosynthesis; antibody; Antibody Specificity; Antigens, Bacterial - immunology; BCG vaccine; BCG Vaccine - administration & dosage; BCG Vaccine - immunology; Biological and medical sciences; bladder neoplasms; Cell Division; Chaperonin 60 - immunology; Escherichia coli - immunology; Escherichia coli Proteins; Female; heat shock proteins; Heat-Shock Proteins - immunology; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins - immunology; Humans; Immunodominant Epitopes; Immunoglobulin G - analysis; Immunoglobulin G - biosynthesis; Immunoglobulin M - biosynthesis; Immunotherapy; Lymphocytes - cytology; Male; Malformations of the urinary system; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; mycobacteria; Mycobacterium - immunology; Mycobacterium bovis - immunology; Nephrology. Urinary tract diseases; Original; Recombinant Proteins - immunology; Tetanus Toxoid - immunology; Tuberculin - immunology; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms - immunology; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms - therapy; Urinary tract. Prostate gland; Human; Mycobacterium; Urinary system disease; Immune response; BCG; Urinary tract disease; Malignant tumor; Antigen; Treatment; Urinary bladder; Mycobacteriales; Immunotherapy; Heat shock protein; Mycobacteriaceae; Bacteria; Actinomycetes; Bladder disease; Intravesical administration; Humoral immunity
• ISSN: 0009-9104; 1365-2249
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2249.1997.4141313.x

Few studies have analysed the antibody response during intravesical BCG immunotherapy for superficial bladder cancer. We have examined the evolution in serum antibody response against several heat shock proteins (hsp), including the recombinant mycobacterial hsp65 and the native protein P64 from BCG, GroEL from Escherichia coli (hsp60 family), recombinant mycobacterial hsp70 and the E. coli DnaK (hsp70 family), against purified protein derivative of tuberculin (PPD) and the AG85 complex of Mycobacterium bovis BCG, as well as against tetanus toxoid in 42 patients with a superficial bladder tumour, 28 treated with six intravesical BCG instillations and 14 patients used as controls. We also analysed the lymphoproliferative response of peripheral blood mononuclear cells against PPD in this population. Data of antibody responses at 6 weeks post BCG were available in all 28 patients, and at 4 month follow up in 17 patients. All patients who demonstrated a significant increase in IgG antibodies against PPD at 4 months follow up had a significant increase already at 6 weeks of follow up. In contrast, IgG antibodies against hsp increased significantly from 6 weeks to 4 months post‐treatment. A significant increase in IgG antibodies against PPD, hsp65, P64, GroEL, and hsp70 at 4 months follow up was observed in 10/17, 8/17, 10/17, 4/17 and 8/17 patients. Native P64 protein elicited a higher antibody response than recombinant mycobacterial hsp65. No increase in antibody response was observed against Dnak from E. coli, against AG85 or tetanus toxoid after BCG therapy. An increase in IgG antibodies against P64 at 4 months follow up compared with pretreatment values was found to be a significant predictor of tumour recurrence (P < 0.01). Further studies with a larger number of patients are needed to confirm the value of the antibody response against P64 as a clinical independent prognostic factor.