title: Involvement of HLA class I molecules in the immune escape of urologic tumors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the influence of different alterations in human leukocyte antigen class I molecules (HLA I) in renal cell carcinoma, as well as in bladder and prostate cancer. We also study the correlation between HLA I expression and the progression of the disease and the response after immunotherapy protocols.
  
  
  METHODS
  It has been shown, experimentally, that the immune system can recognize and kill neoplastic cells. By analyzing the expression of HLA I molecules on the surface of cancer cells, we were able to study the tumor escape mechanisms against the immune system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Alteration or irreversible damage in HLA I molecules is used by the neoplastic cells to escape the immune system. The function of these molecules is to recognize endogenous peptides and present them to T cells of the immune system. There is a clear relationship between HLA I reversible alterations and success of therapy. Irreversible lesions also imply a lack of response to treatment. The immune system activation can reverse HLA I molecules expression in tumors with reversible lesions, whereas tumors with irreversible ones do not respond to such activation. Determine the type of altered HLA I molecules in tumors is of paramount importance when choosing the type of treatment to keep looking for therapeutic success. Those tumors with reversible lesions can be treated with traditional immunotherapy; however, tumour with irreversible alterations should follow alternative protocols, such as the use of viral vectors carrying the HLA genes to achieve damaged re-expression of the protein.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  From studies in urologic tumors, we can conclude that the HLA I molecules play a key role in these tumors escape to the immune system.
authors: Departamento de Biología Molecular, Bioquímica III e Inmunología, Universidad de Granada, Granada, España; Servicio de Análisis Clínicos, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Granada, España.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Carretero
authors: Servicio de Urología, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Granada, España. Electronic address: mavangos@gmail.com.
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Gil-Julio
authors: Servicio de Urología, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Granada, España.
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Vázquez-Alonso
authors: Departamento de Biología Molecular, Bioquímica III e Inmunología, Universidad de Granada, Granada, España; Servicio de Análisis Clínicos, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Granada, España.
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Garrido
authors: Servicio de Urología, Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Macarena, Sevilla, España.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Castiñeiras
authors: Departamento de Biología Molecular, Bioquímica III e Inmunología, Universidad de Granada, Granada, España; Servicio de Urología, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Granada, España.
authors: J M
authors: JM
authors: Cózar
mesh_terms: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology*; D001500:BCG Vaccine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000276:immunology; D005805:Genes, MHC Class I; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019139:Tumor Escape / Q000276:immunology*; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D014571:Urologic Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D001500:BCG Vaccine; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I
keywords: Antigenic processing; Antígeno leucocitario humano de clase i; Antígeno leucocitario humano de clase ii; Bladder cancer; Carcinoma de células renales; Cáncer de próstata; Cáncer de vejiga; Fenotipos; Human leukocyte antigen class i; Human leukocyte antigen class ii; Immunotherapy; Inmunoterapia; Phenotypes; Procesamiento antigénico; Prostate cancer; Renal cell carcinoma