HUMAN-LEUKOCYTE ANTIGEN SUBTYPE ANALYSIS IN PATIENTS WITH ADVANCED ADENOCARCINOMA OF THE PROSTATE

Human leukocyte antigens (HLA) are cell surface glycoproteins that hav e a significant role in the immune system. In some cancers, changes in major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and II expression, usu ally a reduction or loss of these molecules, appear to provide a mecha nism whereby tumor cells may escape host immunity. HLA analysis in pat ients with advanced adenocarcinoma of the prostate revealed the antige ns with the highest relative risk factors as DRw52, DRw53, Bw73, DR2, and B5(51). As a result, determination of HLA haplotypes may prove to be useful in determining the men with a higher risk of developing pros tate cancer. (C) 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.