Distribution of HLA‐B alleles in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients and normal controls in Thailand

Abstract
HLA‐B frequencies in 54 unrelated nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients and 49 healthy random controls in Thailand were investigated by direct DNA sequencing. Similar to previous reports in Chinese NPC patients, HLA‐B*4601 was observed at a greater frequency in patients (21/54 (40%)) compared to controls (7/49 (14%). An increase in HLA‐B*51012 was also demonstrated. B*51012 was present in 6/54 (11%) NPC patients but was not observed (0%) in controls. B*44032 was associated with a decreased risk. Five out of 54 (9%) NPC patients had B*44032 compared to 14/49 (29%) in the control group.