Analysis and clinical relevance of human leukocyte antigen class I, heavy chain, and beta2-microglobulin downregulation in breast cancer

• Published in: Human immunology 2009-07, Vol.70 (7), p.492-495
• Main Authors: Morabito, Anna, Dozin, Beatrice, Salvi, Sandra, Pasciucco, Gennaro, Balbi, Giuseppe, Laurent, Stefania, Pastorino, Simona, Carli, Franca, Truini, Mauro, Bruzzi, Paolo, Del Mastro, Lucia, Pistillo, Maria Pia
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; beta 2-Microglobulin - analysis; Breast Neoplasms - metabolism; Breast Neoplasms - pathology; Down-Regulation; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Histocompatibility Antigens Class I - analysis; HLA Antigens; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Kaplan-Meier Estimate; Middle Aged; Prognosis
• ISSN: 1879-1166
• DOI: 10.1016/j.humimm.2009.04.029

Investigation is lacking regarding the clinical impact of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I downregulation in breast cancer and results are inconsistent. In this study, we investigated the expression of HLA class I, the heavy chain, and beta2-microglobulin (beta2-m) by immunohistochemistry in 67 breast carcinomas (BC) and correlated results with clinical-pathologic parameters and patient outcomes. Seventy-six percent of BC were downregulated for HLA class I, whereas downregulation of heavy chain and beta2-m was observed in 57 and 46% of BC, respectively. A significant association existed between the absence of tumor necrosis and downregulation of class I and beta2-m and between the absence of lymphovascular invasion and patient's age and downregulated class I and heavy chain, respectively. Among the lymph node-positive BC patients, a significantly improved overall survival was observed in those showing beta2-m downregulation compared with patients with normal beta2-m. This result may correlate with the role of beta2-m in regulating cancer cell growth.