Lymphocyte function related to survival curves in patients with metastatic melanoma treated by chemoimmunotherapy

Abstract

Thirty‐eight patients with metastatic melanoma were evaluated immunologically prior to chemoimmunotherapy. The assays used included recall antigen skin hypersensitivity; lymphocyte count; nonspecific T, non‐T, and K cell lymphocytotoxicity; and T and B cell rosette enumeration. Survival curves were computed for each of four ranges of values of a given immunologic test. The higher ranges of positive skin tests, lymphocyte count, cytotoxicity, and T and B subpopulation numbers were consistently associated with the longer survivals. The differences reached statistical significance for non‐T cell cytotoxicity and B and T cell peripheral blood counts. Pretreatment immune reactivity, particularly that involving non‐T cell function, appears related to length of survival.