Total plasma immunoglobulin E level before and after canine hepatocellular carcinoma surgery

Immunoglobulin E (IgE) is a key mediator of allergic reactions. Recent studies have suggested that chimeric IgE targeting cancer antigens exerts anti-cancer effects. However, whether IgE production is induced endogenously in cancer-bearing hosts remains unclear. We measured total IgE concentrations in healthy dogs (n=18) and dogs with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC; n=10) before and after surgery. IgE concentrations did not differ between the healthy and HCC groups but decreased in nine of the ten dogs after HCC surgery. Statistical analysis indicated that HCC surgery was significantly associated with reduced IgE concentrations, suggesting endogenous IgE production in response to HCC. Further investigations with larger sample sizes and measurements of cancer-antigen–specific IgE are warranted to confirm these findings.