title: [Thymopentin in the treatment of cutaneous melanoma].
abstract: Thirty-three patients were treated with thymopentin (synthetic thymic-hormone) after complete surgical removal of cutaneous malignant melanoma without clinical evidence of metastases and with evidence of immunocellular deficiency, with the aim of obtaining a normalization of the immunological parameters. The cell-mediated immunity was evaluated by utilizing monoclonal antibodies CD3, CD4, CD8, CD21, NK and the Multitest C.M.I. (Institut Merieux-Lyon-France), before treatment and then every three months. A follow-up at 29 months showed an improvement of the immune parameters: respectively 58%, 67% and 42% of the patients undergoing therapy had an increase of 40% of the CD3, CD4 and NK lymphocytes. Seven patients, with pre-existing hypergy following tests of skin-reactions, present a normalization of this parameter during the treatment. In the follow-up three patients had metastases. The results show the improvement of the considered immunological parameters and low percentage of relapses. It may be considered as a preventive measure for immunological control of relapses.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Trevisan
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Agolzer
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000276:immunology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D016305:Thymopentin; D013946:Thymopoietins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013951:Thymus Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D013946:Thymopoietins; D013951:Thymus Hormones; D016305:Thymopentin
vernacular_title: La timopentina nel trattmento del melanoma cutaneo.