Further evidence for an association of HLA-DR7 with basal cell carcinoma on the tropical island of Saba.
OBJECTIVE
To establish the association of HLA alleles (ie, HLA-DR1, HLA-DR4, and HLA-DR7) with individuals with skin cancer on the tropical island of Saba. This island was chosen because most of the white population has fair skin and excessive exposure to sunlight, which results in a high prevalence of skin cancer.


METHODS
HLA typing was performed in 124 white individuals with histologically proven basal cell and/or squamous cell carcinoma and in control subjects. Skin type, the presence of freckling, and the number of actinic keratoses were determined.


METHODS
Population-based study.


METHODS
Inhabitants of Saba with and without skin cancer.


METHODS
Presence of HLA-DR1, HLA-DR4, and HLA-DR7 alleles.


RESULTS
Associations of HLA alleles with basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma have been reported. The presence of the HLA-DR7 allele was positively associated with the development of basal cell carcinoma (odds ratio, 3.8; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-13.4). Adjustment for skin type, which is a potentially confounding factor for the association between HLA alleles and skin cancer, did not substantially alter this association. No other associations between HLA alleles and skin cancer were found, possibly because of the small size of the study population.


CONCLUSIONS
This study presented further evidence for an association between HLA-DR7 and basal cell carcinoma. Arch Dermatol. 2000;136:1019-1022
Department of Dermatology, Leiden University Medical Center, The Netherlands. dermatol@euronet.nl
J N
JN
Bavinck
M T
MT
Bastiaens
M E
ME
Marugg
R C
RC
Beckers
R G
RG
Westendorp
B J
BJ
Vermeer
F H
FH
Claas
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000483:Alleles; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000235:genetics*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D015809:HLA-DR7 Antigen / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D014329:Tropical Climate; D014900:West Indies
D015809:HLA-DR7 Antigen