[HLA in cancers of Waldeyer's pharyngeal ring]

HLA antigens were investigated in 129 patients with various types of carcinomas of Waldeyer's ring; most of them were undifferentiated carcinomas. Significant relations were demonstrated to the antigens of the HLA system particularly in locus B (B17) and DR (DR4). Differences in the frequency of other antigens compared with a control group were not statistically significant. The presence of HLA antigens serves as a useful auxiliary clinical marker which does not change in the individual patient. It characterises the patient immunogenetically and it may also serve as guidance for differential diagnosis in the initial tumour stages. At this stage, diagnosis may be difficult with all known methods, particularly of occult head and neck tumours.