The expression of MHC class II antigens in renal cell carcinoma may be important for the response to interleukin-2 based immunotherapy. Therefore, we determined the HLA-DR expression in 50 primary tumors, in 45 specimens of non-transformed renal tissue of tumor bearing kidneys and in two newly established cell lines (DNT-11 and DNT-63) derived from metastases by indirect immunofluorescence. The systematic examination of the adjacent normal kidney for the expression of HLA-DR revealed that 33 (73%) specimens were positive, 12 (27%) intermediate, however no negative results were obtained. Of 50 tumor specimens 24 (48%) were regarded as positive and 26 (52%) as negative. There was no correlation between HLA-DR expression and tumor stage or grading, respectively. Both cell lines were HLA-DR negative over a time period of 4 years.

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