Heterozygosity or homozygosity for 2 HLA class II haplotypes predict favorable outcomes for renal cell carcinoma treated with cytokine therapy.
OBJECTIVE
Durable responses to cytokine therapy occur in a small subset of patients with renal cell carcinoma. We determined if a common HLA genotype existed among these patients which might be associated with response and survival.


METHODS
The study population consisted of 80 patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma who had received cytokine therapy. DNA obtained from these patients was used for high resolution typing of HLA A, B, C, DRB1, DQA1 and DQB1 alleles.


RESULTS
The class II alleles from patients with prolonged disease-free survival were predominantly composed of haplotype DRB1*0301/DQA1*0501/DQB1*0201 and DRB1*1501/DQA1*0102/DQB1*0602. The frequency of heterozygosity or homozygosity for these alleles was significantly greater in the good outcome group of patients than in those whose disease progressed during therapy. Heterozygosity or homozygosity at these loci was also associated with significant prolongation of survival.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that heterozygosity or homozygosity for the class II haplotypes DRB1*0301/DQA1*0501/DQB1*0201 and DRB1*1501/DQA1*0102/DQB1*0602 is associated with durable response and survival in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma treated with cytokine therapy.
Ellerhorst
Julie A
JA
Department of Bioimmunotherapy, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA.
Hildebrand
William H
WH
Cavett
Joshua W
JW
Fernandez-Vina
Marcelo A
MA
Hodges
Sherie
S
Poindexter
Nancy
N
Fischer
Harald
H
Grimm
Elizabeth A
EA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D006239:Haplotypes; D006579:Heterozygote; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000235:genetics*; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D007376:Interleukin-2; D007372:Interferons