Human leukocyte antigens and prognosis in patients with head and neck cancer: results of a prospective follow-up study.

Background: Prognostic information is essential for optimal treatment of patients with head and neck cancer. We studied the relationship of class I and class II human leukocyte antigens (HLA) on prognosis in patients with head and neck cancer.

Methods: HLA-A, -B, -C and -DR antigens were determined in 209 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx, or larynx. The patients were subjected to follow-up investigations for a period of 5 years.

Results: Five-year survival rates in relation to tumor stage varied between 86% for stage I tumors and 28% for stage IV tumors (P <.0001, log-rank trend test). The EBA-A11 antigen showed a significant negative correlation with survival. While the 5-year survival of 124 HELA-A11-negative patients was 58%, none of the 17 HLA-A11-positive patients survived 5 years (P = .0002). A significant negative correlation with survival was also observed for HLA-DR6. While the 5-year survival rate of 106 HLA-DR6-negative patients was 60%, it was only 40% in 35 HLA-DR6-positive patients (P = .0313).

Conclusions: If the findings of our study can be confirmed, HLA-A11 and HLA-DR6 might become clinically important supplemental prognostic markers in head and neck cancer.