Human histocompatibility antigens and survival in acute myelocytic leukemia

Several previous reports have suggested an association between human histocompatibility antigens (HLA) and survival in acute myelocytic leukemia (AML). The authors have retrospectively analyzed the records of 104 consecutive newly diagnosed patients with AML treated on the Leukemia Service of the Johns Hopkins Oncology Center from March 1978 through May 1982 who had HLA typing performed to further evaluate this point. The authors have been unable to demonstrate a statistically significant association of HLA phenotype with the ability to achieve a complete response (CR), length of CR, survival of the total group of treated patients, or survival of only those patients achieving a CR (P less than 0.05). The available evidence does not strongly support a significant influence of HLA on survival in AML.