Publications by authors named "H M H Hurks"
Purpose: The molecules of the HLA class I and II molecules as well as the MHC class I chain-related gene A (MICA), a polymorphic and stress-induced cell surface molecule, are involved in T-cell and natural killer-cell (NK-cell) mediated immune responses. In this study we looked for any genetic susceptibility contributed by HLA class I, class II, or MICA genes with regard to the development of uveal melanoma.
Methods: Between 1998 and 2001, 159 uveal melanoma patients were typed for HLA class I and II, and 168 uveal melanoma patients were evaluated for MICA by microsatellite typing.
Objective: To evaluate whether nuclear activity as measured by the disodium phosphate 32P (32P) uptake test for uveal melanoma is of prognostic value and corresponds to known prognostic factors.
Methods: A retrospective analysis of 121 patients with choroidal and/or ciliary body melanoma, tested with the 32P uptake test before enucleation between January 1, 1973, and December 31, 1976, at the Leiden University Medical Center. We obtained the 25-year follow-up information of this group of patients and compared the 32P test results and histopathological variables with the long-term survival rates.
Background: In cutaneous melanoma, the S-100-beta serum level is recognized as a marker of metastatic disease.
Objectives: To determine whether S-100-beta is present in the serum of patients with uveal melanoma and to test whether the serum concentration of S-100-beta is related to known clinical and histopathological prognostic factors in these patients.
Methods: The S-100-beta concentration was measured in serum samples collected from 64 patients with uveal melanoma before enucleation and from 58 healthy control subjects.
A decrease in the expression of HLA antigens is considered a characteristic of tumor progression and is considered an important tumor-escape mechanism. In general, HLA Class I expression is even further decreased on metastases. Tumor cells that loose their HLA Class I antigens become less susceptible to lysis by specific T cells, but may become more sensitive to Natural Killer cells.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: To investigate whether uveal melanoma cells express HLA-G, a nonclassical HLA class I molecule that has been shown to be a critical mediator in the inhibition of natural killer (NK) cell-mediated cytolysis.
Methods: Eleven human uveal melanoma cell lines were analyzed for the expression of HLA-G by flow cytometry, immunocytochemistry, Western blot analysis, and RT-PCR followed by Southern blot analysis. Two HLA-G-specific monoclonal antibodies were used, 87G and MEM-G/1.