Previous studies have shown that malignant transformation is sometimes
associated with the aberrant expression of HLA class II antigens. The
functional significance of such aberrant expression is not known. Sin
ce HLA-DR antigen is expressed in normal colonic mucosa, it would be i
nteresting to see if malignant transformation could result in the aber
rant suppression of this antigen. Sixteen colonic adenocarcinomas, 29
colonic adenomatous polyps and 23 samples of normal colonic mucosa, in
cluding 9 cases of colonic mucosa adjacent to carcinoma, were stained
immunohistochemically for HLA-DR antigen. The intensity and distributi
on of the antigen staining in the cytoplasm and luminal surface of the
epithelial elements were analysed semiquantitatively. The lymphoplasm
acytic infiltrate in the lamina propria was also evaluated. Cytoplasmi
c HLA-DR antigen expresion was found to be significantly diminished in
moderately and poorly differentiated adenocarcinomas but not in adeno
mas or well-differentiated adenocarcinomas, This suggests that the cha
nge in HLA-DR expression is not intrinsic to the neoplastic process bu
t may merely be due to the fact that malignant cells, as they become l
ess differentiated, tend to show alterations in their antigenic phenot
ype.