Is poor prognosis really related to HLA‐DR expression by malignant melanoma cells?

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Abstract
HLA‐DR expression was examined in 50 consecutive primary cutaneous malignant melanomas with a Breslow depth > 2 mm using two well‐characterized monoclonal antibodies which detect fixation‐resistant epitopes. In 31 of these cases (62%) a subpopulation of tumour cells was reactive, although there was considerable heterogeneity. Positive labelling did not correlate with depth but was associated with a reduced likelihood of developing early metastatic disease and a tendency for better overall survival, particularly in male patients. These findings contrast with earlier studies using cryostat sections and one study on paraffin‐embedded tissue in which HLA‐DR expression was shown to be a poor prognostic factor, but are consistent with the findings in other malignant tumours studied. The significance of HLA‐DR expression as a marker of prognosis may depend on the type of tissue preparation, the sensitivity of the immunocytochemical techniques used and the method of assessment.