title: HLA-DQA1 and -DQB1 allele typing in southern Taiwanese women with breast cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The pathogenesis of breast cancer is multifactorial. Genetic predisposition, environmental factors, hormones and even infection agents are thought to interact in the manifestation of breast cancer. In particular, human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles play a pivotal role in cellular immunity and may be an important genetically determined host trait. Regardless of the importance and functions of HLA genes in the evolution of cancer, the allele-specific association of HLA molecules in cancer patients has not been well established. Recently, a few studies have concentrated on the association between HLA and breast cancer, but the results of these studies are controversial.
  
  
  METHODS
  We designed a study to evaluate the association between the genotype of HLA class II genes and breast cancer. HLA-DQA1 and -DQB1 polymorphisms were determined by PCR with sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP) in 101 Taiwanese women patients with breast cancer and 115 matched control subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Using PCR-SSP typing, HLA-DQA1 and -DQB1 locus comparison of allele frequencies between breast cancer patients and healthy controls showed no significant difference.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We have established a significant lack of HLA-DQA1 and -DQB1 association with breast cancer in southern Taiwanese women. The results of this study may provide information for further clarification of the etiology of breast cancer in this region.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho, Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Po-Chih
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Eing-Mei
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Tze-Kiong
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Er
authors.forename: Su-Jen
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Bai-Hsiun
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002965:Classification; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D059848:HLA-DQ alpha-Chains; D059866:HLA-DQ beta-Chains; D006650:Histocompatibility Testing / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens; D059848:HLA-DQ alpha-Chains; D059866:HLA-DQ beta-Chains; C069050:HLA-DQA1 antigen; C069051:HLA-DQB1 antigen