title: Heterogeneity of the T-cell and macrophage infiltrate in cutaneous and subcutaneous metastases of melanoma patients.
abstract: To examine the intra-individual heterogeneity of the local inflammatory infiltrate in metastases of untreated melanoma patients we analysed 42 skin and subcutaneous metastases from 11 patients. Metastases were excised on the same date (10 patients) or consecutively (six patients), and processed in a two-step immunoperoxidase technique using monoclonal antibodies directed against T-cells (CD3, CD25) and two macrophage subpopulations (RM 3/1, 27E10). The number of positively stained T-cells and macrophages were counted for each lesion in representative high power fields. The mean values were calculated. We observed limited heterogeneity among T-cells (CD3+) and activated T-cells (CD25+) in simultaneously excised metastases. Contrary to this, markedly heterogeneous CD3+ infiltrates were found in metastases taken on different dates, even if there was a time difference of only 1 day between excisions, suggesting spontaneous variations. However, activated T-cells in follow-up biopsies showed only limited heterogeneity. In spite of inter-individual variations, metastases taken simultaneously, as well as consecutively, showed little intra-individual heterogeneity with respect to macrophages. Our findings should be taken into account for comparative studies of the infiltrate in metastatic melanoma during immunotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: von Depka Prondzinski
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: von Stamm
authors.forename: E B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Bröcker
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008264:Macrophages / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology*