HLA-Cw4 association with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in Sicilian patients.

The HLA frequencies of 50 Sicilian patients affected with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) were examined. The frequency of Cw4 antigen was significantly increased in patients. Thus results obtained in our homogeneous population confirm in part previous reports suggesting that Cw4-related genetic factors might be involved in the susceptibility to aetiological or pathogenetic mechanisms which play a role in some haematological malignancies.