HLA class II alleles in Chinese patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
Recent reports of an association between human leucocyte antigens (HLA) and persistence of hepatitis B virus infection, and the familial clustering of hepatocellular carcinoma raise the question of genetic susceptibility. Previous studies have been limited to serological phenotyping of HLA B and DR antigens. The aim of this study was to use molecular genotyping to investigate HLA class II as a risk factor for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma in Hong Kong Chinese.


METHODS
We determined HLA DRB1, DQA1, DQB1 and DPB1 alleles in 123 hepatitis B surface antigen positive patients (84 with hepatocellular carcinoma and 39 without) and 124 matched controls.


RESULTS
The alleles DRB1*1501 (36% of HCC patients versus 19% of controls, odds ratio=2.44), DQA1*0102 (42% versus 26%, odds ratio=2.07), and DPB1*0501 (80% versus 63%, odds ratio=2.35) were significantly more common in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, and DQA1*03 (36% versus 56%, odds ratio=0.53), DQB1*0302 (4.% versus 13%, odds ratio=0.25) and DPB1*0201 (14% versus 29%, odds ratio=0.4) were found at significantly lower frequencies.


CONCLUSIONS
Although none of these associations was significant after correction for multiple testing, this report suggests that further investigations are warranted.
Donaldson
P T
PT
Centre for Liver Research, School of Clinical Medical Sciences, University of Newcastle, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK. p.t.donaldson@ncl.ac.uk
Ho
S
S
Williams
R
R
Johnson
P J
PJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000483:Alleles; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005802:Genes, MHC Class II; D006682:HLA-DP Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D059868:HLA-DP beta-Chains; D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D059848:HLA-DQ alpha-Chains; D059866:HLA-DQ beta-Chains; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains; D006650:Histocompatibility Testing; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D006682:HLA-DP Antigens; D059868:HLA-DP beta-Chains; C071170:HLA-DPB1 antigen; D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens; D059848:HLA-DQ alpha-Chains; D059866:HLA-DQ beta-Chains; C069050:HLA-DQA1 antigen; C069051:HLA-DQB1 antigen; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains