Direct cytotoxicity test applied to patients in stage I and II of malignant skin melanoma

Abstract

Using the direct eytotox~!city test described by Takasugi and Klein (1970), 59patients suffering from localized malignant skin melanoma (stages I and I I) were investigated for cell-mediated immunity. On an average, peripheral Iymphoeytes obtained preoperatively from 52patients showed a higher cytotoxicity against one of two established melanoma cell lines (RPMI 7931) as compared to lymphocytes from eontrol persons. No significant differences were found between lymphocytotoxicity of the patients and the controls against the control cell lines.In a prospective study, 17 patients were investigated. The results obtained so far suggest a correlation between a positive reaction postoperatively and recurrence of melanoma.It is clear that the eontrol group exerted a certain degree of "nonspecific" cytotoxiei,ty depending on the target cell used (established cell lines versus short-term cultures) and the lymphocyte~target cell ratio. Furthermore, there was a day-to-day variation in the nonspecific cytotoxieity exerted by lymphoeytes derived from the same control person.It is concluded that considerable refinements have to be made before the mierocytotoxic,ity assay becomes of clinical use in the evaluation of the postoperative status and course in melanoma patients.

Serial immune function testing to predict clinical disease relapse in patients with solid tumors

“…A high percentage of those patients with Stage I or Stage If melanoma who were serially monitored postoperatively and who demonstrated persistent anti-tumor cytotoxicity against established melanoma cell lines were found to relapse within 1 year [32]. In the same study, those patients who demonstrated a progressive decline in anti-tumor cytotoxicity following surgery remained disease-free.…”

Prognostic value of assays for circulating immune complexes and natural cytotoxicity in malignant skin melanoma (stages I and II)

“…This reactivity was determined as previously reported [13] by means of the microcytotoxicity assay (MCA) [24] described in detail elsewhere [12]. An established melanoma line RPMI 7931 served as the target.…”

“…Sera for determinations of immune complex activity were stored at -80°C without additives. Lymphocytes were separated by a sodium metroziate-Ficoll gradient method as described elsewhere [12]. The average yield was 106 lymphocytes/ml blood.…”

A Nude Mouse Tumor Neutralization Test Applied to Patients Suffering from Skin Melanoma. A Methodological Study

“…This has been demonstrated by means of various in vitro methods such as microcytotoxicity test (6, 9, 28), colony inhibition (13), lymphocyte migration inhibition (2, S ) , leukocyte adherence inhibition (12), and blast transformation tests (16). In recent years, however, doubts have been raised concerning the specificity of some of these methods (7,14,15,17,19,27).…”