HLA and nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Malays

Abstract

HLA associations were observed in unrelated Malay patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). HLA-B18 was observed in 18/45 (40%) Malay NPC patients compared to 22/167 (13%) Malay normals (P=0.0001; Pc=0.0027, RR=4.4). The frequency of HLA-B17, one of the antigens associated with Chinese NPC, was also increased among Malay NPC (13/45 29%) compared to controls (18/167 11%; P=0.003, Pc=0.07 RR=3.4). Similar to the findings among Chinese NPC, the frequency of B17 was higher in early onset (≤ 30 years) Malay NPC resulting in a higher relative risk (RR= 5.0). © 1985, The British Empire Cancer Campaign for Research. All rights reserved.