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Levels and Disease Recurrence in Melanoma Patients
From the Department of Surgical Oncology (JEL, JA, GAP, LB, PFM, JEG, MIR) and the Department of Bioimmunotherapy (EAG), The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas; and the Division of Molecular Rheumatology and Immunology (JDR), The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Texas.
Correspondence: Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Jeffrey E. Lee, MD, Department of Surgical Oncology, Box 444, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX 77030; Fax: 713-745-4426; E-mail: jelee{at}notes.mdacc.tmc.edu
Background: Increased interferon 
(IFN-) levels are an independent predictor of melanoma recurrence. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II genes can regulate cytokine production; we investigated whether these genes would predict IFN- levels and recurrence in melanoma patients.
Methods: Of 591 patients who presented with localized melanoma, 579 underwent identification of HLA class II alleles; 233 melanoma patients and 90 controls underwent determination of plasma IFN- levels. HLA class II genes were examined for association with IFN- levels and disease recurrence.
Results: After a median follow-up of 60 months, melanoma patients with IFN- levels above the mean control value were more likely to have developed disease recurrence compared with patients with levels below the mean. The HLA class II gene HLA-DRB1*1101 was the strongest predictor of recurrence, and HLA-DRB1*1101-positive melanoma patients had increased levels of IFN- compared with patients lacking the gene.
Conclusions: Among patients with localized melanoma, both HLA-DRB1*1101 and increased IFN- levels were associated with an increased risk for recurrence; HLA-DRB1*1101-positive patients had relatively increased levels of IFN-. HLA class II genes may mediate cytokine production in melanoma patients, and this mechanism may help determine the risk of disease recurrence.
Key Words: Melanoma • Interferon • HLA class II • Disease recurrence
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