HLA frequencies in cancer: a third study

Frequencies of 25 HLA antigens in 526 Caucasian patients were compared to those in 629 healthy controls who were HLA-typed between September 1975 and February 1977. Haplotypes were compared for 711 patients and 549 controls typed between September 1974 and December 1976. Frequency deviations were found in those with ALL, AML, breast cancer, lymphoma and ovarian cancer, but only the increase in A29 in AML patients was statistically significant when corrected for the number of specificities. Interesting associations, when compared with earlier studies, include elevation of AW24 in both ALL and AML patients and increased B27 in ALL patients. Significant haplotype differences were increased A3-B8 and absence of A1-BW17 in ALL patients and increased A11-B5 and A2-BW40 as well as absence of A2-B5 in AML patients.