[Journal of Nucleic Acids Investigation 2010; 1:e9] [page 41] Survival of the fittest or bestadapted: HLA-dependenttumor development

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) comprises a set of genes that are criti-cal to immunity and surveillance against neo-plastic transformation. There is increasing evidence that the MHC antigens not only regu-late antitumor immune responses in experi-mental animal models but directly correlate with survival and prognosis of patients with diverse types of cancers. MHC antigens may in the future function as potential biomarkers for prognosis and allow selection of cancer patients for intensive therapy