Histocompatibility locus antigens (HLA) in the epidermoid type of lung carcinoma.

HLA-A and B antigens were determined in a study of 162 patients (93 epidermoid type, 20 adenocarcinoma, 26 small-cell carcinoma and 23 undifferentiated types) with lung cancer. Differences between antigen frequencies in cancer and control populations were studied by chi 2Y analysis or Fisher's exact test. Survival data were analyzed using Cox's model for censored data. Cancer patients had a decreased frequency of the antigen HLA-B40 (chi 2Y = 14.15, P = 0.00018, Pc = 0.003, relative risk = 0.21). Patients with HLA-A10, A 11 and B27 had a shortened mean survival time. Patients with HLA-B12 had a prolonged survival time.