MHC Genes and Breast Cancer
Abstract
Tumors are believed to emerge only when immune surveillance fails. We wished to ascertain whether the failure to inherit putative protective alleles of HLA class II genes is linked to the development of breast cancer. We molecularly typed BLA DPB1, DQB1, DRB1 and DRB3 alleles in 176 Caucasian women diagnosed with early onset breast cancer, and in 215 ethnically matched controls. HLA DQB*03032 was identified in 7% of controls but in no patients with early onset breast cancer (p = 0.0001). HLA DRB 1*11 alleles were also significantly overrepresented (p <0.0001) in controls (16.3%) as compared with patients with early onset breast cancer (3.5%). HLA DQB*03032 and HLA DRBl*11 alleles may have a protective role in human breast cancer. The above results are in press and we are currently extending this study in a larger cohort to confirm that these HLA class II alleles are indeed protective and thus determine if future approaches to the therapy of breast cancer should be based on the reintroduction of protective alleles into antigen presenting cells.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 2000
- Accession Number
- ADA390725
Entities
People
- Shiv S. Pillai
Organizations
- Massachusetts General Hospital