Summary
Monocytopoiesis and blood monocytes were investigated in patients with superficial spreading melanoma stages I and II. Monocyte production was moderately increased in 4 of 9 untreated patients. Postoperative prophylactic BCG-vaccination gave rise to increased proliferation activity in 3 of 4 patients with previously normal monocytopoiesis. However, monocyte production returned to normal between the 4th and 6th month of BCG immunotherapy. Monocytopoietic hyperproliferation did not occur if DTIC was administered simultaneously with BCG. These results indicate that BCG-vaccination increases monocytopoiesis during the first months of treatment only. This effect is abrogated by concomitant chemotherapy.
Zusammenfassung
Bei Patienten mit malignem Melanom von oberflächlich spreitendem Typ im klinischen Stadium I oder II wurden die Blutmonocyten und die Proliferationsaktivität der Monocytopoese im Knochenmark bestimmt. Die Monocytopoese war in 4 von 9 unbehandelten Patienten stimuliert. Bei der postoperativ durchgeführten prophylaktischen BCG-Behandlung konnte bei 3 von 4 Patienten eine Zunahme der vorher normalen Proliferationsaktivität der Monocytopoese beobachtet werden, die allerdings nach dem 4. bis 6. Monat der Immunotherapie wieder in den Normalbereich abfiel. Bei Patienten im klinischen Stadium II, die eine zusätzliche cytostatische Therapie mit DTIC erhielten, konnte keine Zunahme der monocytopoetischen Proliferationsaktivität festgestellt werden. Die Ergebnisse machen deutlich, daß die unspezifische Immunstimulation mit BCG in der von uns durchgeführten Weise die Proliferationsaktivität der Monocytopoese steigert, daß dieser Effekt aber passager ist. Eine Zunahme der monocytopoetischen Proliferationsaktivität tritt nicht auf, wenn BCG gleichzeitig mit einer cytostatischen Therapie appliziert wird.
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This investigation was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
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Schmitt, E., Meuret, G., Waldermann, F. et al. Monocytopoiesis in malignant melanoma: Untreated, during immunotherapy and chemoimmunotherapy. Arch Dermatol Res 264, 319–326 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00412659
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00412659