Histocompatibility antigens in small cell carcinoma of the lung.

Fifty white patients with small cell carcinoma of the lung (SCCL) were typed for histocompatibility antigens (HLA) to assist in providing platelet support for intensive induction therapy. An analysis of the HLA types in this population was undertaken to determine if there was an influence of HLA type on this disease. Patients with the HLA-Bw44 (HLA-B12) allele were found to be significantly over-represented in our patient population compared to a control population (52% versus 26%, P less than 0.001). In addition, patients possessing the HLA-A1 phenotype were found to have a significantly poorer 1-year survival rate (15%) than individuals who did not possess this allele (60% 1-year survival rate) (P less than 0.025). These findings will need to be confirmed by other groups working with large numbers of patients with SCCL.