title: Analysis of HLA expression in human tumor tissues.
abstract: Cancer cells can be detected and destroyed by cytotoxic T lymphocytes in many experimental tumor systems, and--as has been well-documented--in some human tumors. In humans however, most diagnosed tumors are not eliminated by T cells but grow steadily, invading and metastasizing until the host is destroyed. Evidence is accumulating that progressive tumor growth occurs not because the immune system is defective or deteriorated, but because the cancer cell is capable of developing a variety of strategies to escape immune recognition. In addition, cancer cells acquire new biological properties to generate invasive capacity in order to migrate and colonize new tissues. Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigens are molecules that are specialized in communicating with the T cell receptor and natural killer (NK) cell ligands. With the former, they use the interaction with peptides derived from processed cellular and exogenous proteins to monitor self and non-self status. With the latter, they determine the degree of activation and killing capacity of NK cells by interacting with NK receptors. Any change in the MHC profile of tumor cells (including classical and nonclassical MHC molecules) may therefore have a profound influence on the immune recognition and immune rejection of cancer cells. We have reviewed the data from our laboratory and other groups, and have presented a standardized procedure for analyzing the MHC profile of human tumors with special emphasis on the quality and laboratory use of the material obtained from microdissected tumor samples. Appropriate tissue processing is of particular relevance, since it is not possible to obtain tumor cell lines from most patients. Oncologists require rapid information on the MHC profile of the tumor if gene therapy is envisaged to restore normal MHC class I gene expression.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Análisis Clínicos, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Avd. Fuerzas Armadas 2, 18014 Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cabrera
authors.forename: Miguel Angel
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: López-Nevot
authors.forename: Jose Juan
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Gaforio
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Cabello
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Garrido
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D002884:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 15 / Q000235:genetics; D002896:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 6 / Q000235:genetics; D015925:Cryopreservation; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping / Q000379:methods*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D019656:Loss of Heterozygosity; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex / Q000235:genetics*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*; D017354:Point Mutation; D013048:Specimen Handling; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D006680:HLA Antigens; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin