The analysis of HLA-G level in patients with endometrial cancer by Western blot technique.

PROBLEM: Aberrant expression of HLA-G in various malignancies has been shown to participate in tumor development by suppressing immune regulation within the tumor microenvironment. The detection of HLA-G has reportedly been correlated with certain clinicopathological parameters in several neoplasms. Both the soluble and membranous forms of HLA-G are biologically active, therefore we aimed to evaluate the HLA-G level by Western blot technique.

METHOD OF STUDY: The total amount of HLA-G protein was analyzed in the primary tumor in 113 tissue samples derived from patients with endometrial cancer. The HLA-G protein level was measured by Western Blot technique and was analyzed with respect to the clinicopathological parameters.

RESULTS: Human leukocyte antigen-G protein levels were statistically significantly higher in the cancerous tissues derived from the women with advanced endometrial cancer than those from women with early stage disease. Moreover, we showed that endometrial cancer patients with lymph node metastases had statistically significantly higher HLA-G levels in the primary uterine tumor.

CONCLUSION: The aberrant expression of HLA-G antigens by malignant cells could be one of the strategies tumor cells use to escape immune surveillance. The presence of HLA-G within the cancer nest and its microenvironment would seem to be linked to disease progression. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.