Luciferase-Based Detection of Antibodies for the Diagnosis of HPV-Associated Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Burbelo, Peter D.; Chaturvedi, Adrija; Notkins, Abner L.; Gunti, Sreenivasulu

We and others have used a fluid phase immunoassay employing luciferase-tagged recombinant fusion proteins, called luciferase immunoprecipitation systems (LIPS), for diagnostic purposes [14] . Owing to the enhanced presentation of both linear and conformational antigenic epitopes in solution, the LIPS immunoassay often has higher sensitivity, specificity and dynamic range of detection than solid-phase immunoassays. The antibody profiles generated by LIPS have been highly informative in elucidating patient subsets in autoimmune and infectious diseases [15] [16] [17] [18] , the discovery of new autoimmune conditions [19] , the identification of novel pathogens [20, 21] , and for the diagnosis of pandemic viruses [22, 23] . Recently, a streamlined version, LIPSTICKS, employing magnetic capture of immune complexes, was able to quickly and accurately measure diagnostic antibodies associated with six different autoimmune and infectious diseases, including for the diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome [24] . In this report, we describe studies using the LIPS assay to detect cancer-associated antibody responses against the tumor antigens including p53 and HPV-16 E2, E6 and E7 proteins. Additionally, the detection of HPV E6 antibodies by the LIPSTICKS technology enabled the rapid diagnosis of HPV-associated HNSCC.