HLA status and lymphocyte phenotypes in gastric cancer

• Published in: Annals of Cancer Research and Therapy 1997/04/25, Vol.5(2), pp.107-110
• Main Authors: Ogoshi, Kyoji, Miyaji, Masao, Nakamura, Kenji, Kajiura, Yasuo, Kondoh, Yasumasa, Tajima, Tomoo, Mitomi, Toshio
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: gastric cancer; HLA types; lymphocyte phenotype
• ISSN: 1344-6835; 1880-5469
• DOI: 10.4993/acrt1992.5.107

To evaluate the association between HLA status and cell-mediated immunity, we examined the lymphocyte phenotypes and the expression of 49 HLA antigens by lymphocytes in patients with gastric cancer. Six hundred and six patients with histologically confirmed primary adenocarcinoma of the stomach underwent resection from March 1986 to October 1993. We classified these gastric cancer patients into four groups using a simple method of classifying patients according to HLA antigen status. HLA type I patients had a low level of CD3 and CD4 cells and a high levels of CD16 cells, while HLA type III and IV patients had a high level of CD4 cells and a low level of CD16 cells. HLA type I and III patients, respectively, showed a decreased of CD57 and CD4 cells according to stage. HLA type II and IV patients did not show phenotypic changes of lymphocytes according to stage. These findings show that patients with different HLA types have a differences in immune status. A prospective randomized study using this new classification is now ongoing to confirm its clinical value in gastric cancer patients.