HLA-G expression is an independent predictor for improved survival in high grade ovarian carcinomas

Aberrant expression of human leukocyte antigens (hla) class i has prognostic importance in various cancers. here,we evaluated the prognostic value of classical (a/b/c) and nonclassical (g/e) hla expression in 169 high grade epithelial ovarian cancer samples and linked that to clinicopathological characteristics and survival. expression of hla-a,-b/c,or -e was not correlated with survival. survival was prolonged when tumours expressed hla-g (p = 0.008) and hla-g was an independent predictor for better survival (p = 0.011). in addition,hla-g expression was associated with longer progression-free survival (p = 0.036) and response to chemotherapy (p = 0.014). accordingly,high expression of hla-g mrna was associated with prolonged disease-free survival (p = 0.037) in 65 corresponding samples. elevated serum-soluble hla-g levels as measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 50 matched patients were not correlated to hla-g protein expression or gene expression nor with survival. during treatment,shla-g levels declined (p = 0.038). in conclusion,expression of hla-g is an independent prognostic factor for improved survival in high grade epithelial ovarian cancer and a predictor for platinum sensitivity. © 2014 m. j. rutten et al.