HLA-G Expression Is an Independent Predictor for Improved Survival in High Grade Ovarian Carcinomas

Abstract EN

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.