The prognostic value of membrane markers and morphometric characteristics of lymphoid cells in blood and lymph nodes from patients with mycosis fungoides.
For 26 patients with mycosis fungoides (MF), the type and extent of the skin lesions, the percentage of cerebriform mononuclear cells (CMC), and T and B lymphocytes in the peripheral blood and lymph nodes were correlated with MF involvement of regional lymph nodes, the clinical course, and response to therapy. Skin tumors and an involvement of more than 25% of the skin correlated well with lymph node involvement. Normal percentages (2--18%) of CMC in the peripheral blood were found for MF patients without lymph node involvement when compared with those found for patients with benign erythroderma and healthy donors. Elevated circulating CMC percentages (greater than 20%) were observed in 9 of 11 MF patients with lymph node involvement. In the lymph node cell suspensions from nine of ten MF patients with lymph node involvement, increased CMC values were found (greater than 15%), whereas two of three MF patients without lymph node involvement showed percentages comparable (4% and 7%, respectively) with those of the control lymph nodes. In the peripheral blood of patients with MF, decreased percentages of T cells (less than or equal to 55%) were found predominantly for patients with lymph node involvement, whereas normal percentages were noted for most of the patients without lymph node involvement. No consistent differences in the percentage of T and B cells in the lymph node cell suspensions were found between MF patients with and without lymph node involvement. Patients with lymph node involvement showed in general a partial response to therapy with an unfavorable clinical course in contrast to patients without lymph node involvement. Increased percentages of CMC (greater than 20%) and decreased percentages of T cells (less than or equal to 55%) in the peripheral blood, the presence of skin tumors, and involvement of more than 25% of the skin are prognostically unfavorable signs for patients with mycosis fungoides.
D000368:Aged; D001402:B-Lymphocytes; D002467:Cell Nucleus; D003873:Dermatitis, Exfoliative / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009182:Mycosis Fungoides / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes
D007074:Immunoglobulin G