The Expression of HLA Class I Antigens in Germ Cell Testicular Cancer

Abstract

The expression of HLA class I antigens in testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs) was studied by the immunoperoxidase technique. In the normal testicle, the interstitial cells of Leydig as well as most of the germ cells were significantly stained. In typical seminoma, 75% of the tumor cells in stage I and 30% in stage II were stained. In embryonal cell carcinoma, 25% of the cases in stage I and less than 10% of those in stage II were stained. Mature teratoma was stained in most of the cases, whereas in malignant teratoma only 35% of the cases showed some staining of the tumor cells. In mixed tumors each component displayed its characteristic staining pattern. The expression of class I antigens on tumor cells is required for immune recognition and lysis of the tumor by cytotoxic T-cells. The reduced expression of class I antigens that was related to histologic characteristics and stage suggests that some testicular tumors may escape immune surveillance and become biologically more aggressive.

Soluble histocompatibility antigen class I in breast cancer patients in relation to tumor burden

“…These tumors include small cell lung c a r~i n o m a ,~ basal cell carcinoma,6 neuroblastoma,' and testicular cancer. 8 Beta-2 microglobulin (B-2M) forms the light chain of histocompatibility antigens (HLA) Class I. It is an 1 1,800-Dalton, 99-residue, single-chain polypeptide' and is present on the surface of the cells as part of the HLA complex."…”

Expression of class I histocompatibility antigens in transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder in relation to survival

“…Tumors of 33 patients who underwent cystectomy were examined; 57% of the tumors expressed HLA class I antigens. Positive expression was observed in 5 of 6 cases with Grade 1 tumors, 8 of 13 with Grade 2, and 6 of 14 with Grade 3. The 5-year survival was significantly better in patients with HLA class I-positive tumors (74%) compared with those with negative tumors (36%, P < 0.05).…”

The Significance of Soluble lnterleukin-2, Soluble Interleuk in-2 Receptors, Soluble ICAM-1 and &beta;₂-Microglobulin in Breast Cancer Patients

“…MHC class I antigens, which are present on all nucleated cells, are required for the lysis of malignant cells by cytotoxic T cells [23], In experimental tumors, reduced expres sion of MHC class I antigens has been de scribed, and this attenuation correlated di rectly with the ability of the tumor cells to avoid immune rejection and develop in im munocompetent hosts [24]. In several human tumors, reduced expression of HLA class I antigens has been described [25][26][27], which correlated with the degree of tumor aggres siveness [25], differentiation [26], and surviv al [27,28], (32-Microglobulin (p^M), which forms the light chain of the HLA class I molecule, is an 11,800-dalton, single-chain polypeptide and is present on the surface of the cells as part of the HLA complex [29]. When the HLA com plex is metabolized, the P2M sheds into the extracellular fluid and can be measured in the serum.…”