Clinical implication of HLA class I expression in breast cancer.
BACKGROUND
Human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-class I molecules on tumor cells have been regarded as crucial sites where cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) can recognize tumor-specific antigens and are strongly associated with anti-tumor activity. However, the clinical impact of HLA class I expression in breast cancer has not been clarified.


METHODS
A total of 212 breast cancer patients who received curative surgery from 1993 to 2003 were enrolled in the current study. HLA class I expression was examined immunohistochemically using an anti-HLA class I monoclonal antibody. The correlation between HLA class I positivity and clinical factors was analyzed.


RESULTS
The downregulation of HLA class I expression in breast cancer was observed in 69 patients (32.5%). HLA class I downregulation was significantly associated with nodal involvement (p < 0.05), TNM stage (p < 0.05), lymphatic invasion (p < 0.01), and venous invasion (p < 0.05). Patients with preserved HLA class I had significantly better disease-free interval (DFI) than those with loss of HLA class I (p < 0.05). However, in multivariable analysis, HLA class I was not selected as one of the independent prognostic factors of disease-free interval.


CONCLUSIONS
The examination of HLA class I expression is useful for the prediction of tumor progression and recurrent risk of breast cancer via the antitumor immune system.
Department of Surgical Oncology, Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Kagoshima University School of Medicine, Japan.
Koichi
K
Kaneko
Sumiya
S
Ishigami
Yuko
Y
Kijima
Yawara
Y
Funasako
Munetsugu
M
Hirata
Hiroshi
H
Okumura
Hiroyuki
H
Shinchi
Chihaya
C
Koriyama
Shinichi
S
Ueno
Heiji
H
Yoshinaka
Shoji
S
Natsugoe
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005260:Female; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*; D055815:Young Adult
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I