Evidence that an HLA-DQA1-DQB1 haplotype influences susceptibility to childhood common acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in boys provides further support for an infection-related aetiology

Comparison of DQA1 and DQB1 alleles in 60 children with common acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (c-ALL) and 78 newborn infant control subjects revealed that male but not female patients had a higher frequency of DQA1*0101/*0104 and DQB1*0501 than appropriate control subjects. The results suggest a male-associated susceptibility haplotype in c-ALL and supports an infectious aetiology.