Scientific publications

Prognostic value of human leukocyte antigen G expression in solid tumors: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Scientific Publication

May 18, 2023 | Magazine: Frontiers in Immunology

Jorge Bartolome  1 , Consolacion Molto  2 , Javier David Benitez-Fuentes  3 , Gonzalo Fernandez-Hinojal  4 , Aranzazu Manzano  1 , Pedro Perez-Segura  1 , Abhenil Mittal  2 , Faris Tamimi  2 , Eitan Amir  2 , Alberto Ocana  1


Introduction: Identification of modulators of the immune response with inhibitory properties that could be susceptible for therapeutic intervention is a key goal in cancer research. An example is the human leukocyte antigen G (HLA-G), a nonclassical major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecule, involved in cancer progression.

Methods: In this article we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis on the association between HLA-G expression and outcome in solid tumors. This study was performed in accordance with PRISMA guidelines and registered in PROSPERO.

Results: A total of 25 studies met the inclusion criteria. These studies comprised data from 4871 patients reporting overall survival (OS), and 961 patients, reporting disease free survival (DFS). HLA-G expression was associated with worse OS (HR 2.09, 95% CI = 1.67 to 2.63; P < .001), that was higher in gastric (HR = 3.40; 95% CI = 1.64 to 7.03), pancreatic (HR = 1.72; 95% CI = 0.79 to 3.74) and colorectal (HR = 1.55; 95% CI = 1.16 to 2.07) cancer. No significant differences were observed between the most commonly utilized antibody (4H84) and other methods of detection. HLA-G expression was associated with DFS which approached but did not meet statistical significance.

Discussion: In summary, we describe the first meta-analysis associating HLA-G expression and worse survival in a variety of solid tumors.

Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier CRD42022311973.

CITATION  Front Immunol. 2023 May 18:14:1165813.  doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1165813. eCollection 2023.