The axiom of human leukocyte incompatibility (HLA) incompatibility has always led scientists to consider cancer transmission between HLA-different individuals impossible. In fact, cancer transmission between individuals represents a frightening possibility in animal populations with limited HLA diversity or for rare cancers exploiting downregulation of HLA expression. We review here evidence from nonhuman models and settings for interhuman transmission.
Copyright © 2011 American Society for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.