Anticardiolipin Antibodies in Patients with Cancer: A Case–Control Study

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Autoimmune diseases cause cancer deaths through thromboembolic events caused by antiphospholipid antibodies. A total of 40 adult cancer patients and 40 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects participated. Blood samples were tested by ELISA methods for anticardiolipin antibodies. Cancer patients had 60.0% (n = 24) aCL antibodies versus none in healthy subjects (p < 0.001). All six lung cancer patients had positive aCL antibodies, and colon cancer patients had a borderline significant association (p = 0.051). In total, 72.7% of advanced-stage cancer and 81.8% of surgery patients had positive aCL antibodies. Cancer patients with cardiovascular comorbidity had higher aCL antibody positivity (p = 0.005). ABSTRACT: Antiphospholipid antibodies are highly prevalent in autoimmune diseases and mainly associated with thromboembolic events, which is one of the major reasons for cancer-related mortality. Confirmed adult cancer patients were included (n = 40) with an equal number of age- and sex-matched healthy controls. The presence and concentration of anticardiolipin antibodies were investigated by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using the venous blood samples. aCL antibodies were detected in 60.0% (n = 24) of the cancer patients compared to none in the healthy controls (p < 0.001). The serum concentration of aCL antibodies was significantly higher in cancer patients than controls (p < 0.001) and ranged from 89.0 U/mL to 133.0 U/mL among the aCL-positive patients. All the lung cancer patients (n = 6) were diagnosed with positive aCL, and a borderline significant association of aCL antibody positivity was observed in colon cancer patients (p = 0.051). About 72.7% of the advanced-stage cancer individuals and 81.8% of the cancer patients who underwent surgery were diagnosed with positive aCL antibodies. A significant association of aCL antibody positivity was observed with cancer patients comorbid with heart diseases (p = 0.005). The prevalence and serum levels of aCL antibodies were significantly higher in cancer patients compared to healthy controls. Cancer patients (i.e., lung, liver, and colon), at advanced-stage, comorbid with heart diseases, who underwent surgery, were more likely to be diagnosed with aCL antibodies.