Local immunosuppression determined by class II HLA antigen expression in patients with preclinical cervical carcinoma

Class II HLA antigen expression was investigated in biopsy material from patients with preclinical cervical carcinoma. Class II molecules were determined immunohistochemically by MoAb against HLA-DR antigens. A significant reduction of class II positive cells was established in the tumor tissue compared to the normal cervical epithelium. A correlation between the tumor progression and the inhibition of the class II antigen expression was found.