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Expression of MHC class I, HLA-A and HLA-B identifies immune activated breast tumours with favorable outcome

Abstract Background Antigen recognition by MHC class I molecules is a key step for the initiation of the immune response. We hypothesized that expression of these molecules could be a marker of immune activated breast cancers. Methods We used data from KM Plotter to develop an exploratory cohort and then utilized information from Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and METABRIC to create two validation cohorts. Raw data were re-processed and analyzed using plyr R and Bioconductor. Definition of molecular subtypes as well as identification of mutations was performed using RNAseq from TCGA. We used NetMHC 4.0 epitope-HLA to predict binding to MHC I molecules. Cox proportional hazards regression was computed to correlate gene expression and survival outcome. Multiple genes were combined into a signature by using their mean expression. Results There was a weak but positive correlation between mutational burden and the expression of most MHC class I molecules. In the exploratory cohort, expression of HLA-A and HLA-B was associated with favorable relapse free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) in the basal-like subgroup. This was confirmed in the METABRIC dataset (OS HLA-A, HR: 0.59, CI 0.42-0.82; p = 0.002; HLA-B, HR: 0.60, CI 0.44-0.82; p = 0.001); and in the TCGA dataset (OS HLA-A, HR: 0.34, CI 0.16-0.75; p = 0.005; HLA-B, HR: 0.21, CI 0.01-0.71; p = 0.005). Expression of HLA-A and HLA-B was associated with biomarkers of T cell activation (GZMA, GZMB and PRF1) and improved the predictive capacity of known immunologic signatures (IFN gamma signature, expanded immune gene signature and Cytotoxic T lymphocyte). Several neopeptides expressed in breast cancer were also identified including FUK, SNAPC3, GC, ANO8, DOT1L, HIST1H3F, MYBPH, STX2, FRMD6, CPSF1, or SMTN, among others. Conclusions Expression of HLA-A and B is associated with T cell activation and identifies immune activated, basal-like breast cancers with favorable prognosis. Legal entity responsible for the study The authors. Funding Instituto de Salud Carlos III (PI16/01121), ACEPAIN; Diputacion de Albacete, CIBERONC, CRIS Cancer Foundation, scientific foundation of the AECC, implementation research program of the UCLM Spanish System of Science, Technology and Innovation-Secti (co-funded by the European Commission/FSE funds). Disclosure A. Ocana: Research grant / Funding (institution): Entrechem; Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: Merck. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.