Frequency of human leukocyte antigen-A 24 alleles in patients with melanoma determined by human leukocyte antigen-A sequence-based typing

J Immunother. 2000 Mar-Apr;23(2):282-7. doi: 10.1097/00002371-200003000-00013.

Abstract

The analysis of immune responses of patients with melanoma has led to the identification of melanoma-associated antigens targeted by T cells. Cytotoxic T lymphocytes recognize peptides from melanoma-associated antigens presented on the cancer cell surface in the context of HLA class I molecules. Immunodominant melanoma-associated antigen epitopes are being evaluated for their ability to immunize patients with advanced melanoma. However, these vaccination efforts are limited by the extensive polymorphism of the HLA class I heavy chain, which occurs in functional domains of the molecule. Patients with melanoma with the HLA-A-24 phenotype were recruited for vaccination with the peptide AFLPWHRLF from the melanoma-associated antigen tyrosinase. This peptide is recognized in association with HLA-A*2402. The HLA-A24 family includes at least 15 alleles whose frequency and ability to present the same peptide are unknown. The distribution of HLA-A24 alleles was studied in a melanoma population for the practical purpose of identifying patients suitable for vaccination with HLA-A*2402 epitopes. An HLA-A locus-specific polymerase chain reaction method followed by sequencing was developed to determine the HLA-A alleles in genomic DNA. HLA-A 24 was also typed in healthy persons of various ethnic backgrounds to further explore the HLA-A24 family. In white persons, the HLA-A*2402 allele was most common (in 85% of white persons and in 97% of the patients with melanoma). Fewer persons carried the HLA-A*2403 allele (13% in all samples, 3% in melanoma patients). Finally, two new alleles, HLA-A*2422 and HLA-A*24 null, were identified. These results suggest that vaccination with HLA-A*2402-associated epitopes has the potential for broad use in this patient population.

MeSH terms

  • Alleles*
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Cell Line, Transformed
  • HLA-A Antigens / blood
  • HLA-A Antigens / genetics*
  • HLA-A24 Antigen
  • Histocompatibility Testing / methods*
  • Humans
  • Melanoma / genetics*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Monophenol Monooxygenase / genetics*
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA / methods
  • Sequence Analysis, Protein
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • HLA-A Antigens
  • HLA-A24 Antigen
  • Monophenol Monooxygenase