Document 0896
 DOCN  M9460896
 TI    Decreasing CD4/CD8 ratio during prolonged four-drug chemotherapy plus
       interferon treatment for metastatic melanoma.
 DT    9404
 AU    Muhonen T; Hahka-Kemppinen M; Pakkala S; Pyrhonen S; Department of
       Radiotherapy and Oncology, Helsinki University; Central Hospital,
       Finland.
 SO    J Immunother. 1994 Jan;15(1):67-73. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
       MED/94153883
 AB    A chemotherapy regimen consisting of dacarbazine, vincristine, bleomycin
       and lomustine in combination with natural leukocyte interferon
       (IFN)-alpha was administered to 48 metastatic melanoma patients with
       very favorable results. The frequencies of peripheral blood lymphocyte
       subsets during this treatment were monitored by flow cytometry in order
       to elucidate the underlying antitumor mechanism. Analysis of 467
       peripheral blood samples revealed a significant decrease during
       treatment in absolute values of all lymphocyte subsets (CD4, CD8, CD56)
       as well as in total lymphocyte count. All the values returned to normal
       after discontinuation of treatment. Significant alterations in
       proportions of lymphocyte subsets were detected. Notably, the CD4+/CD8+
       ratio showed changes related to response, treatment duration, and
       disease progression. Exceptionally high CD4+/CD8+ ratios (up to 14) were
       observed soon after the start of treatment in some of the patients later
       achieving a complete response. During the course of treatment, in 76% of
       the patients receiving at least a 2-month treatment, the CD4+/CD8+ ratio
       decreased to less than 1.0. Peculiarly, the nadir CD4+/CD8+ ratio was
       consistently observed 1-6 months before clinically detectable disease
       progression, suggesting a relation between CD4+/CD8+ ratio and tumor
       control.
 DE    Adolescence  Adult  Aged  Antineoplastic Agents, Combined/*THERAPEUTIC
       USE  Bleomycins/ADMINISTRATION & DOSAGE  *CD4-CD8 Ratio
       Dacarbazine/ADMINISTRATION & DOSAGE  Human
       Interferon-alpha/IMMUNOLOGY/*THERAPEUTIC USE  Leukocyte Count
       Lomustine/ADMINISTRATION & DOSAGE  Melanoma/*BLOOD/THERAPY  Middle Age
       Support, Non-U.S. Gov't  Vincristine/ADMINISTRATION & DOSAGE  JOURNAL
       ARTICLE

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