HLA expression is frequently altered in tumours compared to the tissue
from which they originate. Given the central role of MHC products in
the restriction of T-cell recognition, regulation of tumour HLA expres
sion might be a strategy for the evasion of immune surveillance by the
malignant cells. Federico Garrido, Peter Stern and colleagues present
data from a variety of tumour types, suggesting that HLA class I alte
rations may occur at a particular step between the development of an i
n situ lesion and an invasive carcinoma.