Tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes in metastatic malignant melanoma and response to interferon alpha treatment

ABSTRACT Interferon alpha (IFN-alpha) has a documented activity against malignant melanoma with a response rate of only approximately 20%. It would therefore be of considerable importance if

patients likely to respond could be identified. The degree of mononuclear cell infiltration in primary tumours has been reported to correlate with a favourable prognosis. This investigation

used monoclonal antibodies, anti-CD4, -CD8 and -CD11c, to identify subsets of tumour-infiltrating mononuclear cells in fine needle aspirates to study whether the presence of such cells

correlates with the therapeutic effect of IFN-alpha. Twenty-one patients with systemic and 20 with regional metastatic malignant melanoma were studied before initiation of IFN-alpha

treatment. A statistically significant correlation (P < 0.001) was found between the occurrence of CD4+ lymphocytes in fine needle aspirates and the therapeutic benefit of IFN-alpha in

patients with systemic disease. Ten out of 11 with moderate to high numbers of infiltrating CD4+ lymphocytes achieved tumour regression. In contrast, among patients with low numbers of these

cells in metastatic lesions, nine out of ten had progressive disease. Similar results were found in patients with regional disease. Access through your institution Buy or subscribe This is

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AND BIOLOGY OF TUMOUR-INFILTRATING LYMPHOCYTES IN THE IMMUNOTHERAPY OF CANCER Article 14 July 2023 HODGKIN LYMPHOMA Article 23 July 2020 BIOLOGICAL AND CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF

TUMOUR-INFILTRATING LYMPHOCYTES IN THE ERA OF IMMUNOTHERAPY: A MULTIDIMENSIONAL APPROACH Article 16 January 2025 AUTHOR INFORMATION AUTHORS AND AFFILIATIONS * Department of Oncology,

University Hospital, Linköping, Sweden A Håkansson Authors * A Håkansson View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * B Gustafsson View author

publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * L Krysander View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * L Håkansson View

author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar RIGHTS AND PERMISSIONS Reprints and permissions ABOUT THIS ARTICLE CITE THIS ARTICLE Håkansson, A.,

Gustafsson, B., Krysander, L. _et al._ Tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes in metastatic malignant melanoma and response to interferon alpha treatment. _Br J Cancer_ 74, 670–676 (1996).

https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1996.420 Download citation * Issue Date: 01 September 1996 * DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1996.420 SHARE THIS ARTICLE Anyone you share the following link with

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