Reduced lymphocyte subpopulations in patients with advanced or disseminated melanoma.
BACKGROUND
Studies have revealed many features of lymphocyte behavior in patients with malignant melanoma, but there are conflicting results.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to measure with easily reproducible assays the circulating lymphocytes and other immunologic aspects in 33 patients with advanced or disseminated malignant melanoma (MM).


METHODS
The following variables were measured: circulating monocytes; total lymphocytes; B (CD19) and T-cell subpopulations; CD3, CD4, and CD8, natural killer cells (anti-Leu-7+ or CD57 and anti-Leu-11+ or CD16) (cytofluorimetry); plasma levels of IgG, IgA, IgM, and IgE; complement fractions 3, 4, and 1Q; antibodies against foreign microorganisms (AaM) (adeno, herpes simplex, herpes zoster, measles, parotitis, cytomegalo, Epstein-Barr, and rubella viruses) and Toxoplasma; and cutaneous delayed hypersensitivity (CDH) to recall antigens (tetanus, diphtheria, Streptococcus, tuberculin, Proteus, Trichophyton, and Candida). We also studied 96 healthy persons, matched for age and geographic location, who were tested on the same days as the patients.


RESULTS
In MM the number of total lymphocytes and subsets CD19, CD3, CD4, and CD8 was decreased from 25% to 40% (p < 0.001). The CD4/CD8 ratio increased (22%, p < 0.005) because of the relatively greater decrease of CD8. The CD57 and CD16 cells (expression of natural killer lymphocytes) were consistently reduced (30%; p < 0.002 to p < 0.003). C3 serum level was increased (30%; p < 0.001). Immunoglobulins, CDH, AaM, and all other tests were the same in the two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The single most important result seems to be a reduction of CD57 and CD16 cells in patients with advanced MM.
Division of Medical Oncology and Cancer Center, Udine General Hospital, Italy.
G
G
Cartei
P G
PG
Sala
M
M
Sanzari
V
V
Ceschia
L
L
Clocchiatti
A
A
Sibau
S
S
Donà
M
M
Giovannoni
E
E
Vigevani
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000097:blood; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000556:secondary; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000473:pathology*; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology; D014780:Viruses / Q000276:immunology
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D003176:Complement C3; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D012709:Serum Albumin