KIR and HLA genotypes are associated with disease progression and survival following autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for high-risk neuroblastoma.

Purpose: NK cells exhibit cytotoxicity against neuroblastoma. Gene polymorphisms governing NK cell function, therefore, may influence prognosis. Two highly polymorphic genetic loci instrumental in determining NK cell responses encode the NK cell killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) and their class I human leukocyte antigen (HLA) ligands.