title: Pilot study of the association between the HLA region and testicular carcinoma among Croatian patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the distribution of HLA alleles and HLA microsatellite alleles in Croatian patients with testicular carcinoma, compare it with that of healthy controls and investigate whether the polymorphism within the HLA region could be associated with the development of testicular cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Genomic DNA was isolated from the peripheral blood of 24 patients with testicular germ cell tumors (TGCT). Patients and controls were typed for HLA class I and class II polymorphism by the PCR-SSO method. Nine HLA microsatellites were analyzed by PCR and electrophoresis in an automated sequencer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant deviation in the distribution of frequencies at HLA class I alleles was observed between patients and controls. Among HLA class II alleles, a statistically significant increase in the frequency of the HLA-DPB1*1701 allele was found among patients. The frequency of the HLA-DRB1*07-DQA1*0201-DQB1*0202 haplotype was increased in patients in comparison to the controls. Analysis of HLA microsatellites showed an increased frequency of D6S291-3 allele (p(corr) = 0.0455, OR = 3.05) among patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The observed association of the disease and the DPB1*1701 allele as well as with the D6S291-3 allele suggests that this part of the HLA region might be involved in the pathogenesis of TGCT. Our data provide a basis for further studies about the correlation between the HLA region and testicular cancer.
authors: University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia. kristinagotovac @ gmail.com
authors: Kristina
authors: K
authors: Gotovac
authors: Zorana
authors: Z
authors: Grubic
authors: Zeljko
authors: Z
authors: Kastelan
authors: Katarina
authors: K
authors: Stingl
authors: Tomislav
authors: T
authors: Kulis
authors: Ivan
authors: I
authors: Krhen
authors: Tvrtko
authors: T
authors: Hudolin
authors: Maja
authors: M
authors: Kastelan
authors: Renata
authors: R
authors: Zunec
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D017523:Croatia; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000235:genetics; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D008875:Middle Aged; D008957:Models, Genetic; D009373:Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D006680:HLA Antigens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D004247:DNA