title: HLA phenotypes and multiple basal cell carcinomas.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous investigators noted an association of multiple basal cell carcinomas (BCC) with certain HLA antigens; however, these findings were contradictory, and the associations were only weak.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to objectify the previously found associations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serologic HLA typing for class I and class II antigens was performed in 49 unrelated patients with 5 or more BCCs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HLA-DR4 showed decreased frequencies in the patient group as compared with healthy controls (n = 716). Cw7 was found to be increased in the total group of patients as well as in a subgroup with multiple BCCs of the face (n = 24), while a subgroup with BCCs mainly on the trunk (n = 25) revealed increased frequencies of HLA-A11, -B17, -B22 and -Cw3. However, none of these deviations appeared significant after correction of p values.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that, if at all, the HLA system plays only a minor role in the development of multiple BCCs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Municipal Classics of Kassel, Germany.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rompel
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Petres
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kaupert
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mueller-Eckhardt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009378:Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D010641:Phenotype; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D006680:HLA Antigens