Brief Reports
Copyright ©2005 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jun 21, 2005; 11(23): 3628-3631
Published online Jun 21, 2005. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v11.i23.3628
Relationship between the downregulation of HLA class I antigen and clinicopathological significance in gastric cancer
Yu-Qing Shen, Jian-Qiong Zhang, Feng-Qing Miao, Jian-Min Zhang, Qin Jiang, Hao Chen, Xiang-Nian Shan, Wei Xie
Yu-Qing Shen, Jian-Qiong Zhang, Feng-Qing Miao, Xiang-Nian Shan, Wei Xie, State Education Ministry Laboratory of Development Genes and Human Diseases, International “HLA Expressiom in China” Reference Laboratory, Southeast University Medical School, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu Province, China
Jian-Min Zhang, Department of Pathology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southeast University Medical School, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu Province, China
Qin Jiang, Hao Chen, Department of Pathology, No. 1 Hospital, Lianyungang 222002, Jiangsu Province, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Dr. Wei Xie, Department of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Southeast University Medical School, 87 Dingjiaqiao Road, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu Province, China. wei.xie@seu.edu.cn
Telephone: +86-25-83272510 Fax: +86-25-83272510
Received: July 30, 2004
Revised: July 31, 2004
Accepted: March 10, 2005
Published online: June 21, 2005
Abstract

AIM: To discuss the expression of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I antigens in gastric cancer and correlate these with pathologic type and TNM stage.

METHODS: The expression of HLA class I antigen was detected by immunohistochemistry in 185 specimens of gastric cancer, 20 gastric cancer specimens with lymphatic metastasis and 22 controls of normal gastric mucosa using four monoclonal antibodies.

RESULTS: The expression of HLA class I antigen (B/C locus) was significantly downregulated in gastric cancer and in lymphatic metastasis than that in normal gastric mucosa (χ2 = 7.712, P<0.05). The expression of other HLA class I antigens was also downregulated, but the change was slight. There was no relationship between the downregulation of HLA class I antigen and that of β2m and LMP2. The expression of HLA class I (B/C locus) was statistically correlated with pathologic stage in gastric adenocarcinoma (χ2 = 4.164, P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: The expression of HLA class I antigen (B/C locus) was obviously downregulated in gastric cancer and in lymphatic metastasis. This abnormal expression would provide the tumor cells with a way to avoid immunological recognition.

Keywords: Downregulation; Gastric cancer