title: In situ T-cell responses in a primary regressive melanoma and subsequent metastases: a comparative analysis.
abstract: In an earlier study of the immune response in a patient with a cutaneous primary regressive melanoma, a T-cell-receptor diversity analysis demonstrated in situ amplification of certain lymphocytes. Two of them could be cloned and characterized as CD8+ HLA-class-l-restricted CTL with strong selective anti-tumor activity. Following a disease-free period of 3 years, the patient developed a gastric metastasis and subsequently (after an additional year) a metastasis in one axillary lymph node. Melanoma cell lines derived from the 2 secondary lesions have been established here. It was found that these metastatic cells have maintained expression of both HLA-class-I molecules and the peptidic antigen(s) recognized by the 2 clones amplified at the primary site. However, the corresponding T lymphocytes were either undetectable or poorly represented both in the gastric and in the axillary lesions. These results suggest that substantial alterations in the quality of T-cell infiltrates occurred during melanoma progression, despite an apparent stability in presentation of tumor-associated antigen(s) which initially triggered a positive rejection response.
authors.affiliation: Unité INSERM U267, Hôpital Paul Brousse, Villejuif, France.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Carcelain
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rouas-Freiss
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zorn
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Chung-Scott
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Viel
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Faure
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bosq
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hercend
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017951:Antigen Presentation; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000276:immunology*; D016246:Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / Q000276:immunology; D008545:Melanoma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D009365:Neoplasm Regression, Spontaneous / Q000276:immunology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000556:secondary
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I