Thymus-derived lymphocyte enumeration in patients with uveal malignant melanoma

• Published in: British journal of ophthalmology Vol. 68; no. 7; pp. 486 - 488
• Main Authors: Felberg, N T, Shields, J A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMA House, Tavistock Square, London, WC1H 9JR BMJ Publishing Group Ltd 01.07.1984; BMJ; BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Cobalt Radioisotopes - therapeutic use; Humans; Immunity, Cellular; Light Coagulation; Medical sciences; Melanoma - immunology; Melanoma - radiotherapy; Melanoma - surgery; Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures; Ophthalmology; Rosette Formation; T-Lymphocytes - immunology; Tumors and pseudotumors of the eye, orbit, eyelid, lacrimal apparatus; Uveal Neoplasms - immunology; Uveal Neoplasms - radiotherapy; Uveal Neoplasms - surgery; Uvea; Cell immunity; T-Lymphocyte; Malignant melanoma; Rosette test; Tumor; Immunological method
• ISSN: 0007-1161; 1468-2079
• DOI: 10.1136/bjo.68.7.486

Thymus-derived lymphocytes (T lymphocytes) were enumerated in patients with uveal malignant melanoma. Two T-lymphocyte subpopulations were determined, the active rosette forming cells (A-RFC) and the total rosette forming cells (T-RFC). Subjects were divided into the following groups: (a) pretreatment patients, (b) patients treated by enucleation, (c) patients treated by photocoagulation, (d) patients treated by cobalt plaque radiotherapy, (e) patients treated by enucleation who developed clinically detectable metastasis, and (f) normal controls. There were no differences in the numbers of A-RFC or T-RFC in the control population, pretreatment patients, and those treated in the different ways. Statistically significant depressions of A-RFC and T-RFC levels were seen in patients with metastatic lesions, suggesting that they had an impairment of immunocompetence, as measured by T-lymphocyte rosette formation.