[Do the HLA-A2 genes prevent tumor development? A hypothesis]

The statistical evaluation of the results of 22 HLA antigen typing in 132 patients with tumors (Wilms' tumor, neuroblastoma, germinative testicular non-seminoma-like tumors, benign teratomata) which are probably of common origin during early embryogenesis showed a substantial, after correction of p an insignificant decrease of HLA-A2 frequency against 301 controls. The lower frequency of HLA-A2 was also found in some other tumors. A hypothesis on the protective action of HLA-A2 against tumor development was proposed. The mechanism of this phenomenon may utilize the enhancing effect of HLA-A2 gene on the membrane and humoral immune reactivity of the organism, thus presenting an analogy of HLA-A2 effect on the survival of renal graft and transfused thrombocytes.