MHC class I and II antigen expression and interferon alpha treatment of human midgut carcinoid tumors

Cryosections of 28 primary and metastatic midgut carcinoid tumors from 12 patients with carcinoid syndrome were investigated immunohistochemically with antibodies that recognize human MHC class I (HLA-ABC) and class II (HLA-DR) antigens. The tumor parenchyma of all six patients treated with interferon alpha (IFN-alpha) during a mean 8.6 months (3 x 10(6) to 5 x 10(6) U three times weekly) exhibited unequivocal HLA-ABC immunoreactivity, with only minor discrepancies between primary lesions and metastases in mesenteric lymph nodes and liver. Class I staining was absent on the tumor cells of all 14 specimens from the patients without IFN therapy but was induced by culturing freshly dispersed tumor cells in vitro for 48 hours in the presence of recombinant IFN-alpha. The stroma of all neoplasms displayed class I and II immunostaining, as did usually a few CD4-expressing cells. The carcinoid specimens lacked parenchymal HLA-DR immunoreactivity, which is interesting considering suggestions on improved prognosis for bowel carcinomas lacking the class II expression. The study supports the idea that induction of MHC class I antigens could contribute to the beneficial clinical effect of IFN-alpha treatment in patients with midgut carcinoid tumors.