Cross-reactivity between Candida albicans and Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Revealed by Monoclonal Antibody C7

Abstract

Background: Monoclonal antibodies developed against Candida albicans cell wall mannoproteins cross-react with human ovarian cancer. These antibodies reacted with the nuclear pore complex protein Nup88, which is overexpressed in a number of human tumors. The aim of this study was to investigate if Nup88 revealed by monoclonal antibody C7 is overexpressed in early oral squamous cell carcinoma (EOSCC) and if this expression has a prognostic value. Patients and Methods: A monoclonal antibody against a C. albicans cell wall manoprotein was used to investigate the expression of Nup88 in 34 EOSCC (T1/T2 N0M0). Results: Mab C7 was mostly located in the cytoplasm and extracts from EOSCC showed specific bands of 47-40 and 70 kDa that were not observed in normal oral mucosa. The highest levels of Mab C7 reactivity were observed in 13 (38.2%) tumors. The Kaplan-Meier test showed the median survival time to be shorter in those EOSCC cases with the highest Mab C7 reactivity. Conclusion: The monoclonal antibody C7 raised against a C. albicans cell wall mannoprotein cross-reacts with an antigen from oral squamous cell carcinoma whose expression is associated with poor prognosis. The overexpression of this antigen is associated with a poor prognosis in early squamous cell carcinoma.