title: HLA-antigens in black patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: To determine whether genetically determined immune response factors could be involved in the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma, we performed HLA-A and HLA-B typing in 55 black patients with histologically-proven hepatocellular carcinoma, and HLA-DR and HLA-DQ typing in 47 of these patients. The HLA typing was also carried out in a control group of normal black patients. The HLA typing was done by a standard microlymphocytotoxicity method. No difference in HLA-A, HLA-DR and HLA-DQ frequencies between patients and controls were noted. HLA-B21 was present in 10.9% of patients compared to 1.8% of control subjects (corrected p < 0.005; relative risk = 6.6) and HLA-B49 was present in 7.3% of patients compared with 1.1% of normal control subjects (corrected p < 0.007; relative risk = 7.1). These findings suggest that genetic factors may play a role in the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Natal Medical School, Durban, South Africa.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Maharaj
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Khedun
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Hammond
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044383:Black People / Q000235:genetics*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015234:HLA-A Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D015235:HLA-B Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006650:Histocompatibility Testing; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D012306:Risk; D013019:South Africa
chemical_list: D015234:HLA-A Antigens; D015235:HLA-B Antigens; D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens