title: Expression of human lymphocyte antigen (HLA)-DR on tumor cells in basal cell carcinoma.
abstract: Immunohistologic studies of eight patients with basal cell carcinoma were undertaken using a series of monoclonal antibodies. In all of the patients, the majority of dermal infiltrates reacted with OKT3 and OKIa1 (HLA-DR), with a slight predominance of OKT4+ helper/inducer T cells (the mean OKT4/OKT8 ratio was 1.8). Both OKT4+ and OKT8+ cells were seen infiltrating the tumor masses. In addition, in five cases, human lymphocyte antigen (HLA)-DR was demonstrated on some tumor cells close to a vast number of HLA-DR+ infiltrates surrounding the carcinoma, but not on epidermal keratinocytes and tumor cells devoid of the HLA-DR+ infiltrates. A considerable number of OKT6+ dendritic cells were also observed surrounding the carcinoma. Staining with OKB7 and OKM1 revealed negligible reactive cells, and virtually none of the dermal infiltrates reacted with Leu-7 (HNK-1). These findings suggest that in addition to varied immunologically competent cells, expression of HLA-DR antigen on tumor cells may participate in a cellular immune reaction, a defense mechanism against tumor cell proliferation in basal cell carcinoma.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D006681:HLA-D Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D006681:HLA-D Antigens; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens