Correlation of Tissue Distribution of HLA-G and HLA-E and Degree of Tumor Malignancy in Patients  with Breast Cancer

Mahdie  Jaafari; Hossein  Hadinedoushan; Mahmoud Akhavan  Tafti

doi:10.18502/ijml.v9i4.11626

Mahdie Jaafari Reproductive Immunology Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Science, Yazd, Iran
Hossein Hadinedoushan Reproductive Immunology Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Science, Yazd, Iran
Mahmoud Akhavan Tafti Department of Pathology, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Science, Yazd, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijml.v9i4.11626

Keywords: Breast cancer, Tumor malignancy, HLA-E, HLA-G

Abstract

Background and Aims: Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) molecules play a substantial role in T Lymphocyte-mediated adaptive immune response. Down-regulation of HLA expression may help the tumor to escape from immune surveillance. This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between HLA-G and HLA-E tissue distribution and the degree of tumor malignancy in human breast tumors.

Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted
on tissue samples of 145 patients with breast cancer. The distribution of HLA-G and HLA-E expressions were measured by the immunohistochemistry method.

Results: Among 145 patients, 51% of tumors did not express HLA-E, and +1 positive was seen in 36.6 % of patients. +2 positive in 8.3% and +3 positive in 4.1% of patients. Moreover, 79.3% of tumors did not express HLA-G, 17.9% expressed +1 positive, 2.8% expressed +2 positive, and no patients expressed +3 positive. Generally, 20.7% and 49% of patients showed expression of HLA-G and HLA-E, respectively. A significant correlation was seen between the grade of disease and expression of HLA-E (p = 0.03) and HLA-G (p = 0.001). Moreover, a significant correlation was seen between the simultaneous expression of HLA-G and HLA-E with grade (p = 0.03, r = 0.176).

Conclusion: Significant correlation was seen between the distribution of HLA-G and HLA-E expression with a degree of malignancy. Therefore, these biomarkers’ expression may contribute to the prognosis and progression of breast cancer.