[Immunologic parameters in patients with malignant melanoma]

In an attempt to better define the immunological reactivity of patients with malignant melanoma, the electrophoretic mobility of lymphocytes and their reactivity were studied in poly-L-lysine agglutination and in nucleolar test. Blood samples were examined before treatment and repeatedly after surgical removal of the tumor. A microagglutination test induced by poly-L-lysine was used for the detection of sensitized lymphocytes in peripheral blood of melanoma patients. The number of positive results was increasing with the progression of the disease. After incubation with poly-L-lysine the electrophoretic mobility of lymphocytes was changed in melanoma patients. The nucleolar test was used for the study of quantitative and morphological changes of the nucleoli in lymphocytes. Elevated values of the nucleolar coefficient and an increased number of active nucleoli provided evidence on the higher immunological reactivity of melanoma patients. The decline in the number of lymphocytes with ring-shaped nucleoli, signaling immunologic exhaustion, are of prognostic value. Lymphocytes were assayed also for the presence of receptors for sheep erythrocytes (E active and total rosettes) and C3d component of complement (EAC rosettes). The reported findings may be used to advantage in evaluating the immunological reactivity of melanoma patients.