HLA-E and HLA-G expression in classical HLA class I-negative tumors is of prognostic value for clinical outcome of early breast cancer patients.

Nonclassical HLAs, HLA-E and HLA-G, are known to affect clinical outcome in various tumor types. We examined the clinical impact of HLA-E and HLA-G expression in early breast cancer patients, and related the results to tumor expression of classical HLA class I. Our study population (n = 677) consisted of all early breast cancer patients primarily treated with surgery in our center between 1985 and 1995.