title: [T-lymphocytes in the peripheral blood. Study on 113 patients with malignant melanoma].
abstract: In the present study, we determined the absolute and the percental numbers of T-lymphocytes in 113 patients with malignant melanomas, of whom 50 had metastases and 63 did not. The findings were compared to those in a control group of 22 persons. The patients with melanomas were divided up into clinical stages: stage I (primary tumour), II (metastases in the local lymph nodes), and stage III (systemic metastases). There was a statistically significant reduction of T-lymphocytes in all patients with melanomas, but there were no significant differences between the three stages. Therapy with DTIC did not lead to any major reduction in T-lymphocytes, possibly because of subsequent treatment with BCG. We found no clear correlation between the reduction of T-lymphocytes and an unfavourable prognosis.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001500:BCG Vaccine; D002452:Cell Count; D003606:Dacarbazine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D013601:T-Lymphocytes
chemical_list: D001500:BCG Vaccine; D003606:Dacarbazine
vernacular_title: T-Lymphozyten im peripheren Blut Eine Untersuchung an 113 Patienten mit malignem Melanom.