Possible association between HLA-DR5 and superficial spreading melanoma (SSM)

Previous analyses of possible associations between MHC determinants and cutaneous malignant melanoma (MM) have been inconclusive. We have investigated 98 patients with special emphasis on histologically determined subtypes of MM, and 5 multiple-case families. In addition to HLA-ABC and DR typing, complement allotypes of C2, C4A, C4B, BF were determined. Among the unrelated patients HLA-DR5 and, secondarily, B49 were observed to be associated with superficial spreading (SSM) but not with nodular (NM) or lentigo maligna melanoma (LMM). In families with MM, no definite segregation of the disease according to HLA and complement haplotypes was discernible. Moreover, no coincidence of haplotypes occurred in patients of the different families. HLA region recombinations including B/DR and/or DR/GLO were found in all the families investigated.