Prognostic relevance of soluble human leukocyte antigen-G and total human leukocyte antigen class I molecules in lung cancer patients.
The aim of this study was to determine the prognostic significance of soluble human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I (sHLA-I) and HLA-G molecules in lung cancer patients. A total of 23 small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) and 114 non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, including 55 adenocarcinoma, 46 squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and 13 patients with undifferentiated carcinoma, were prospectively enrolled. Levels of sHLA-G and sHLA-I were analyzed by specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Median levels of sHLA-G and sHLA-I were significantly increased in patients compared with controls (34 ng/ml [3.6-160] vs 14 ng/ml [0-98], p < 0.0001; 2580 ng/ml [749-5770] vs 1370 ng/ml [274-2670], p < 0.0001, respectively). Regarding the different subgroups, patients with NSCLC or SCLC showed increased sHLA-I levels, whereas sHLA-G was exclusively elevated in NSCLC, especially in patients with SCC. Patients with sHLA-I<2800 ng/ml (p = 0.008) or sHLA-G<40 ng/ml (p = 0.073) showed prolonged overall survival (OS). Using these cut-offs in patients with SCC, a pronounced prognostic significance for sHLA-G (p = 0.003) and sHLA-I (p = 0.004) was observed for the prediction of OS. Here, multivariate analysis confirmed sHLA-G and sHLA-I in addition to disease stage as independent prognostic factors. The prognostic power was further enhanced by combining the two factors and comparing the OS of patients with low sHLA-I and low sHLA-G against the remaining ones. In conclusion, plasma levels of sHLA-G and sHLA-I are potent predictors for OS in lung cancer patients.
Department of Medicine (Cancer Research), West German Cancer Center, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany. philipp.schuett@uni-due.de
Philipp
P
Schütt
Birgit
B
Schütt
Magdalena
M
Switala
Sebastian
S
Bauer
Georgios
G
Stamatis
Bertram
B
Opalka
Wilfried
W
Eberhardt
Martin
M
Schuler
Peter A
PA
Horn
Vera
V
Rebmann
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D059951:HLA-G Antigens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D006680:HLA Antigens; D059951:HLA-G Antigens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I