[Study of the association between the polymorphism of the TNF-α gene and prostate cáncer].

Background: Prostate cancer is the third cause of cancer death in men in the Western hemisphere and the second cause of cancer death in Zulian men from Venezuela.

Objective: To determine whether polymorphisms 308 and 238 of the tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) gene are associated with prostate cancer.

Methods: The DNA that was extracted from the peripheral blood of 40 patients with prostatic specific antigen and 40 controls was amplified by PCR plus digestion with enzymes NcoI and MspI.

[HLA DRB1*, DQB1*, DPA1*, and DPB1* and their association with the pathogenesis of leukemia in the population of Venezuela].

Background: The HLA complex involved is a factor in the pathogenesis of leukemia.

Objectives: The presence of class II HLA alleles DRB1 *, DQB1 *, DPA1 *, and DPB1 * was evaluated in 47 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and 48 with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) for comparison with 48 healthy volunteers in Zulia, Venezuela, and to evaluate potential associations of HLA with leukemia.

Methods: Low- and high-resolution PCR-SSP was used for class II HLA regions DRB1 *, DQB1 *, DPA1 *, and DPB1 * following the instructions of KIT Olerup SSP Genovision.

[Autoreactive TCD8+ lymphocytes in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia in association with HLA and adenovirus infection].

Background: A possible interaction between a specific HLA type and Adenovirus has been postulated as a promoter in leukemia clonal evolution. The HLA-DRB1*14, specifically DRB1*14:21, 14:22, 14:45, 14:26, 14:33, 14:51, 14:35 subtypes was the most frequent in CML Venezuelan patients.

Objectives: It is interesting to evaluate the molecular mimicry between the Adenovirus and the DRB1*14 subtypes which exhibit the same change in the amino acid position of the DR53 epitope.