HLA class I expression on human cancer cells. Implications for effective immunotherapy.
Early studies demonstrated the role of cytotoxic T cells as an immune defence mechanism against tumour cells. The demonstration of tumour antigen peptides and their presentation to T cells on major histocompatibility complex class I molecules highlighted the importance of these molecules in effective anti-tumour responses. It is well established that many tumours escape T cell recognition by loss or down regulation of class I molecule expression on the cell surface of tumour cells. Tumours which have lost class I expression are immunoselected and as a result have a propensity for growth and metastatic spread. With the development of cancer vaccine strategies for clinical use, there will be a future role for histocompatibility laboratories in determining class I expression on tumour cells in individual patients. These studies of expression will require not just the demonstration of total class I expression but the demonstration of locus and allele specific class I molecules involved in the relevant tumour peptide presentation. These studies will be pivotal in tailoring individual patient therapies. The identification of appropriate monoclonal antibody reagents for class I expression and techniques used on different kinds of tissue sections will be a component of the forthcoming 13th International Histocompatibility Workshop.
Tait
B D
BD
Victorian Transplantation and Immunogenetics Service-Australian Red Cross Blood Services, Parkville, Victoria, Australia. bdtait@arcbs.redcross.org.au
D000818:Animals; D017951:Antigen Presentation; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000276:immunology; D019496:Cancer Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000378:metabolism*; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D019444:Vaccines, DNA
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D019496:Cancer Vaccines; D006680:HLA Antigens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D019444:Vaccines, DNA