HLA Phenotypes and Multiple Basal Cell Carcinomas

BACKGROUND: Previous investigators noted an association of multiple basal cell carcinomas (BCC) with certain HLA antigens; however, these findings were contradictory, and the associations were only weak. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to objectify the previously found associations. METHODS: Serologic HLA typing for class I and class II antigens was performed in 49 unrelated patients with 5 or more BCCs. RESULTS: HLA-DR4 showed decreased frequencies in the patient group as compared with healthy controls (n = 716). Cw7 was found to be increased in the total group of patients as well as in a subgroup with multiple BCCs of the face (n = 24), while a subgroup with BCCs mainly on the trunk (n = 25) revealed increased frequencies of HLA-A11, -B17, -B22 and -Cw3. However, none of these deviations appeared significant after correction of p values. CONCLUSION: We conclude that, if at all, the HLA system plays only a minor role in the development of multiple BCCs.