Lack of association of HLA with thyroid cancer. An effect of iodine sufficiency and safe environment?

Abstract

We examined HLA association with differentiated thyroid carcinoma in 45 patients from Newfoundland. No association was found. This finding contrasts with the description of an association of thyroid cancer with HLA-DR1 in Italy and Hungary (iodide deficient areas) and with DR7 in the American mid-west. We suggest that iodide deficiency predisposes DR1 + individuals to thyroid cancer and that this risk is negated by iodide sufficiency unless some other risk factor supervenes.