Loss of HLA haplotype in lung cancer cell lines: implications for immunosurveillance of altered HLA class I/II phenotypes in lung cancer.

Loss of expression of HLA class I antigens has been demonstrated in a wide variety of tumors and is considered to be one of the mechanisms whereby tumors escape T-cell surveillance. Genomic DNA of MHC class I/II molecules in seven lung cancer cell lines was investigated and compared with that in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. In three cell lines, OU-LC-A1, OU-LC-A2, and OU-LC-AS1, a loss of HLA haplotype was observed. Aberrations of HLA class I/II in tumor cell lines should be considered when MHC-restricted phenomena in vitro models are assessed and clinical use of tumor vaccination in vivo is considered.