POSSIBLE RELATION BETWEEN HLA AND ABO TYPE AND PROGNOSIS OF UVEAL MELANOMA

Not only local parameters but also genetic determinants like the HLA g enes may play a role in the development and clinical behavior of malig nant tumors. In skin melanoma the presence of HLA-B40 is associated wi th a poor prognosis. We tested the hypothesis that the clinical behavi or of uveal melanoma is influenced by the HLA type of the patient. The HLA types of 44 patients with uveal melanoma had been determined befo re operation with a view to using the cornea of the enucleated eye for an HLA-matched corneal transplantation. We compared the ABO and HLA t ypes of the patients with the development of metastases and with the t en-year patient survival. An association was observed between the pres ence of HLA-B40 and death due to metastasis of uveal melanoma. We conc lude that the HLA type of the patient may influence the clinical behav ior not only of skin melanoma but also of uveal melanoma.