[The distribution of HLA-system antigens in lung cancer patients]

Data on 152 cases of lung cancer were studied in an attempt to identify relationship between immunogenetic markers of the HLA system, on the one hand, and histologic pattern of the disease and effectiveness of radiation treatment, on the other. Control group included 200 healthy blood donors. Eight A locus antigens and 16 B locus antigens were studied. In the entire group of patients, HLA-Aw19 antigen was observed less frequently as compared to controls. Similarly infrequent were haplotypes containing the antigen. The occurrence of HLA-B16 antigen was higher in the adenocarcinoma group. Resistance to treatment, particularly, in patients with small-cell histology was associated with the presence of HLA-B8 antigen. Possibility of tissue typing of antigens for diagnosis and prediction of response in lung cancer patients is discussed.