HLA DR4 is associated with the development of multiple basal cell carcinomas and malignant melanoma.

An association between HLA DR4 and the development of multiple basal cell carcinomas (BCC) and malignant melanoma (MM) was detected in southern Australia. There were highly significant differences in HLA DR frequencies between patients with multiple BCCs and MM and matched patients with multiple BCCs only. These findings suggest that hereditary factors associated with the HLA system influence what types of multiple skin cancers people develop.