| Summary: | Abnormal expression of MHC class I molecules in malignant cells is a frequent occurrence�that ranges from total loss of all class I antigens to partial loss of MHC specific haplotypes or alleles. Different mechanisms are described to be responsible for these alterations, requiring different therapeutic approaches.�A complete characterization of these molecular defects is important for improvement of the strategies for the selection and follow-up of patients undergoing T-cell based cancer immunotherapy. �Precise identification of the mechanism leading to MHC class I defects �will help to develop new personalized patient-tailored treatment protocols.�There is significant new research�on the prevalence of various patterns of MHC class I defects and the underlying molecular mechanisms in different types of cancer. In contrast, few data is�available on the changes in MHC class I expression during the course of cancer immunotherapy, but the authors have recently made discoveries that�show�the�progression or regression of a tumor lesion in cancer patients undergoing immunotherapy depends on the molecular mechanism responsible for the MHC class I alteration and not on the type of immunotherapy used. According to this notion, the nature of the preexisting MHC class I lesion in the cancer cell has a crucial impact on�determining the final outcome of cancer immunotherapy.�This SpringerBrief will present�how MHC class 1 is expressed, explain its role in tumor progression, and its role in resistance to immunotherapy. �
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