MHC class I chain-related gene A transmembrane polymorphism in Spanish women with breast cancer

The NKG2D-major histocompatibility complex class I-related chain A (MICA) system plays a key role in the antitumoral immune response. We studied five alleles of a microsatellite in the MICA transmembrane region; one of which (MICA-A5.1) gives rise to a truncated protein. The MICA-A5 allele was reduced in breast cancer patients compared with healthy controls (P = 0.04). Given the association between the HLA-B7 allele and the susceptibility to breast cancer in our area, we also analyzed the distribution of the frequency of the MICA alleles in human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B7 patients compared with patients with the other alleles. The MICA-A5.1 allele was increased in HLA-B7 patients (P = 0.0003). These results suggest that the MICA-A5 allele appears to confer protection against human breast cancer and that the MICA-A5.1 appears to increase the susceptibility to breast cancer in HLA-B7 patients in our area.