title: Lymphocyte function and response to chemo-immunotherapy in patients with metastatic melanoma.
abstract: Thirty-eight patients with metastatic melanoma were investigated for lymphocyte function immediately prior to chemo-immunotherapy. The pre-treatment immune tests were compared with normal control values and with response to therapy. The "non-responder" group (but not "responder") had significantly reduced values for lymphocyte, null-cell and E-rosette-cell counts compared with controls. Lymphocytoxicity ( using a Chang target cell) showed the same pattern, with depression of direct and K-cell cytotoxic capacity in non-responders compared with controls. Eight patients were studied sequentially whilst on treatment, and demonstrated considerable change (not statistically significant) in lymphocytotoxicity, an untreated "control" patient showed little variation. "Recall"-antigen skin testing showed no statistically significant difference between the patient groups. The data indicate that "non-T-cell activity" may be associated with response to chemo-immunotherapy.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001500:BCG Vaccine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D003606:Dacarbazine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D012397:Rosette Formation
chemical_list: D001500:BCG Vaccine; D003606:Dacarbazine