HISTOCOMPATIBILITY ANTIGENS IN PATIENTS WITH HEPATOCELLULAR-CARCINOMA

The distribution of class I (A, B, C) and class II (DR antigens) histo compatibility antigens (HLA) was examined in 82 patients with hepatoce llular carcinoma (HCC) and in 147 patients with chronic liver disease as controls. The diagnosis of HCC was confirmed by histological examin ation of liver tissue. HLA-B15 antigen was found more frequently in th e subgroup of HCC patients who were positive for HBsAG (13/36, 36.1%) compared to the control group (8/147; 5.4%) [p < 0.001, Pc < 0.05, RR = 9.8] and a HBsAg positive control subgroup (1/25, 4%) [p < 0.001, Pc < 0.05, RR = 13.6]. No other statistically significant difference was found for any of the HLA antigens examined either in HCC patients as a whole group or in the subgroups according to sex, course of illness, AFP status, alcohol consumption, liver cirrhosis or blood groups. The se data are further evidence that there may be a link between hepatiti s B viral (HBV) infection and HLA antigens. The association of HLA-B15 antigen and HbsAg supports the idea of some genetic control of HBV in fection in the patients with HCC.