HLA class I and advanced melanoma in Israeli Jews.

KLA class I antigen was studied in Jewish melanoma patients. The frequency of HLA A24, A26 and B38 was significantly higher in the melanoma patients (34.7%, 39.1% and 38.6%, respectively) compared to controls (16.6%, 18.5% and 20.6%, respectively) (p<0.005). HLA A24 antigen was significantly higher in the metastatic patients (44.8%) compared to the non-metastatic (11.1%) (p<0.001). The frequency of this antigen was also higher in the patients with recurrent disease (16.6%) than in the high risk patients with no recurrence (11.1%). HLA class I and A24 may play a role in the biologic behavior of malignant melanoma.