RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Overall major histocompatibility complex class I expression is not downregulated in cervix cancer, as detected by immunoelectron microscopy JF International Journal of Gynecologic Cancer JO Int J Gynecol Cancer FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd SP 317 OP 321 DO 10.1136/ijgc-00009577-200403000-00019 VO 14 IS 2 A1 M. A. Van Eijkeren A1 J. P. Roovers A1 V. Oorschot A1 H. J. Geuze YR 2004 UL http://ijgc.bmj.com/content/14/2/317.abstract AB Downregulation of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules in cervix cancer has been proposed as a mechanism for cancer cells to escape immunodetection. By means of light microscopic immunohistochemistry, it has been shown that in 20–70% of cervix cancers MHC class I is downregulated. We have reinvestigated this phenomenon by quantitative immunogold analysis of MHC class I labeling on the plasma membrane of cervix epithelial cells in ten human squamous cancers and ten normal human cervices. We have not found a statistically significant difference in MHC class I expression between normal and cancer cells. The difference with published light microscopic data probably reflects the higher morphologic resolution and quantifiable immunoreactivity of the immunoelectron microscopy.