title: MHC antigen expression in colorectal tumours.
abstract: This article reviews abnormalities in the expression of major histocompatibility antigens in colorectal neoplasia. These include the loss of HLA-A, B, C antigens and the loss of HLA-D antigen inducibility. Since these abnormalities are not seen in normal colorectal epithelium they are probably selected for during tumour progression. The crucial role of HLA-A, B, C and HLA-D molecules in the presentation of foreign antigens to the immune system suggests that their loss could directly confer a selective growth advantage to tumour cells expressing tumour specific antigens, through resistance to anti-tumour lymphocyte attack. The possible relationships between abnormalities in tumour HLA antigen expression and the presence of tumour specific antigens are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor 48109-0602.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000276:immunology*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000378:metabolism*; D015234:HLA-A Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D015235:HLA-B Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D015236:HLA-C Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D006681:HLA-D Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D006680:HLA Antigens; D015234:HLA-A Antigens; D015235:HLA-B Antigens; D015236:HLA-C Antigens; D006681:HLA-D Antigens; D007371:Interferon-gamma