Immunoreactivity in melanoma patients: the relationship with morphological signs of primary tumor ulceration and long-term results of combined treatment
Kukushkina S.М., Fil’chakov F.V., Korovin S., Kukushkina M.M.
Summary. The purpose of the work was to study the state of immune system in primary localized melanoma (PLM) patients depending on the presence of the primary tumor ulceration and the long-term results of combined treatment. The peripheral blood lymphocyte (Lph) subsets were studied in 47 PLM patients with IB–IIC stages before treatment. Immunohistochemical study of primary tumor was performed in 12 patients. The follow-up time was 3 years. It was revealed that pretreatment percentage of CD16+ Lph was increased and frequency of CD3+ Lph was decreased (CD4/CD8 ratio was normal) in the peripheral blood of patients with ulceration regardless of results of treatment. Nonulcerated tumor: these parameters had normal levels but it was formed upward trend in frequency of T Lph in patients with relapse; percentage of CD8+ Lph was increased and CD4/CD8 ratio was reduced in patients without relapse. The level of circulating double positive T cells was increased in PLM patients without/with primary tumor ulceration with a favorable course of the diseases. Level of peripheral blood regulatory T cells in PLM patients did not depend on results of treatment and the presence of tumor ulceration. The high number of accumulation CD8+ and CD45RO+ Lph in tumor was associated with better treatment outcomes. The highest number of tumor-infiltrating CD45RO+ cells were observed in patients without recurrence of disease but with ulceration. Further studies of immune system in PLM patients with/without tumor ulceration will allow to improve the tactics of antitumor treatment for these patients and will provide the ability to predict efficacy of such therapy.
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