title: Expression of the Classical and Nonclassical HLA Molecules in Breast Cancer.
abstract: Considering that downregulation of HLA expression could represent a potential mechanism for breast carcinogenesis and metastasis, the aim of the present study was to use immunohistochemical methods to analyze the expression of HLA-Ia, HLA-DR, HLA-DQ, HLA-E, and HLA-G in invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) of the breast and to relate this HLA profile to anatomopathological parameters. Fifty-two IDC from breast biopsies were stratified according to histological differentiation (well, moderately, and poorly differentiated) and to the presence of metastases in axillary lymph nodes. The expression of HLA molecules was assessed by immunohistochemistry, using a computer-assisted system. Overall, 31 (59.6%) out of the 52 IDC breast biopsies exhibited high expression of HLA-G, but only 14 (26.9%) showed high expression of HLA-E. A large number (41, 78.8%) of the biopsies showed low expression of HLA-Ia, while 45 (86.5%) showed high expression of HLA-DQ and 36 (69.2%) underexpressed HLA-DR. Moreover, 24 (41.2%) of 52 biopsies had both low HLA-Ia expression and high HLA-G expression, while 11 (21.2%) had low HLA-Ia expression and high HLA-E expression. These results suggest that, by different mechanisms, the downregulation of HLA-Ia, HLA-E, and HLA-DR and the upregulation of HLA-G and HLA-DQ are associated with immune response evasion and breast cancer aggressiveness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Analysis, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UNESP, SP, Brazil ; Department of Clinical Analysis, Laboratory of Cytology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UNESP, Rua Expedicionários do Brasil 1621, 14801-902 Araraquara, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gisela Bevilacqua Rolfsen Ferreira
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Analysis, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UNESP, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Tarsia Giabardo Alves
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Analysis, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UNESP, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Roberta Aparecida
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Duarte
authors.affiliation: Institute of Surgical Pathology and Cytopathology, Araraquara, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Nicolino Lia
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Neto
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Hélio Humberto Angotti
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Carrara
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Eduardo Antônio
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Donadi
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Alice Guimarães
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo (USP), SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Edson Garcia
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Analysis, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UNESP, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Christiane Pienna
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Soares