Identification of tumor antigens that elicit a humoral immune response in the sera of Chinese esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients by modified serological proteome analysis.

•The modified classical SERPA technique could be used for the discovery of tumor-associated antigens and autoantibodies.•We have examined the presence of antibodies against HSP105 in sera from ESCC for the first time.•Autoantibodies against TIM in ESCC serum mainly reacted with glycosylated but not deglycosylated TIM.•Various expression patterns of HSP105 and TIM were observed in normal epithelium and ESCC.•Autoantibodies against HSP105 and TIM may be potentially useful for the early detection of ESCC.