HLA-DRB1*13:01 allele in the genetic susceptibility to colorectal carcinoma

What's new? Altered expression of the HLA-DRB1 antigen, a key player in the immune response, is linked to colorectal cancer with a background of ulcerative colitis. But it is unknown whether HLA-DRB1 alleles affect risk of colorectal tumor development, and their impact in the absence of inflammatory bowel disease remains relatively unexplored. In this study, 29 distinct HLA-DRB1 alleles were identified in colorectal cancer patients and normal controls. One allele, DRB1*13:01, was found to be significantly associated with increased risk of colorectal tumor, suggesting that it may be a marker for colorectal cancer outside the setting of inflammatory bowel disease.