Open Access Research

HLA-G and HLA-E specific mRNAs connote opposite prognostic significance in renal cell carcinoma

Leos Kren1*, Ivo Valkovsky2, Jan Dolezel3, Ivo Capak3, Dalibor Pacik4, Alexandr Poprach5, Radek Lakomy5, Martina Redova5,6, Pavel Fabian7, Zdenka Krenova8 and Ondrej Slaby5,6

Author Affiliations

1 Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Brno, Masaryk University, Jihlavska 20, Brno, 625 00, Czech Republic

2 Faculty Hospital Ostrava, Clinic of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic

3 Department of Oncological Urology, Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute, Brno, Czech Republic

4 Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Brno, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic

5 Department of Comprehensive Cancer Care, Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute, Brno, Czech Republic

6 CEITEC - Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic

7 Department of Oncological and Experimental Pathology, Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute, Brno, Czech Republic

8 Department of Childrens’ Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Brno, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic

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Diagnostic Pathology 2012, 7:58 doi:10.1186/1746-1596-7-58

Published: 29 May 2012

Abstract

Background

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is characterized by its resistance to radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy. On the other hand, it is an immunogenic tumor - it is able to stimulate antitumor responses. A prognostic significance of HLA-G expression by neoplastic cells in RCC is not well characterized; significance HLA-E expression in RCC is not characterized at all.

Methods

In our study, we evaluated the expression of HLA-G and HLA-E specific mRNA transcripts produced by neoplastic cells in 38 cases of RCC and in 10 samples of normal kidney parenchyma. The results were statistically correlated with various clinico-pathological parameters.

Results

We confirmed that HLA-G is downregulated in normal kidney tissue; if it is up-regulated in RCC, then it is connected to worse prognosis. On the other hand, HLA-E mRNA transcripts were present in both normal kidney tissue and RCC and their increasing concentrations counterintuitively carried better prognosis, more favorable pT stage and lower nuclear Fuhrmann’s grade.

Conclusion

Considering the fact that there is known aberrant activation of HLA-G and HLA-E expression by interferons, identification of HLA-G and HLA-E status could contribute to better selection of RCC patients who could possibly benefit from more tailored neoadjuvant biological/immunological therapy. Thus, these molecules could represent useful prognostic biomarkers in RCC, and the expression of both these molecules in RCC deserves further study.

The virtual

Slide(s) for this article can be found here: http://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/ webcite7383071387016614