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Association of IgA‐anti‐Fab autoantibodies with disease stage in head‐and‐neck cancer

Patients with head‐and‐neck cancer commonly have immune defects. It was reported that these patients have raised serum IgA levels. We investigated whether IgA‐anti‐Fab autoantibodies, which occur in association with immune dysfunction, are present in patients with head‐and‐neck cancer. Sera of 101 patients with squamous‐cell carcinoma (SCCHN) and 8 patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACCHN) of the head and neck were tested in ELISA for IgA‐anti‐Fab autoantibody activity. IgA‐anti‐Fab serum activity was significantly higher in both SCCHN and ACCHN patients than in healthy controls. In patients with SCCHN, an association between disease stage and IgA‐anti‐Fab activity was established. Stage‐IV patients had significantly higher IgA‐anti‐Fab than stage‐I patients or healthy controls. Stage‐II and stage‐III patients had intermediate levels. Extremely high IgA‐anti‐Fab activity was observed in 7 patients who died within 6 months following testing, suggesting a relationship of autoimmunity with terminal disintegration of physiological body functions. IgA‐anti‐Fab autoantibodies may explain the occurrence of immune defects in patients with head‐and‐neck cancer. © Wiley‐Liss, Inc.