Criteri per le Tecniche di Immunostimolazione nei Tentativi di Terapia del Melanoma Maligno della Cute

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Abstract
Thirty three patients with malignant melanoma found in different clinical stages of their disease are followed up for a period of two and a half years for survival or changes in the clinical status. Immunodiagnostic tests have determined their humoral and cellular reactivity. When negative, autoimmunization with autologous irradiated melanoma cells and/or BCG nonspecific immunostimulation has been undertaken with the aim to boost the production of tumor specific cytotoxic antibodies and mobilize cellular immunity. The following results have been recorded: all patients found in the stage of generalized disease have perished regardless of immunostimulation. Nevertheless, they have displayed three phenomena witnessing host response: cutaneous flare surrounding skin deposits, diminishing or subsidence of pulmonary metastases, partial or complete regression of subcutaneous metastatic deposits. Patients with hematogenic disseminated single or few deposits are alive after radical surgery and immunostimulation. Cases of localised disease: primary or primary with regional metastases have perished or become generalized when no immunostimulation has been undertaken; immunostimulated patients are doing well with no residual disease after radical surgery. A scheme of combined treatment of malignant melanoma on the background of immunostimulation procedures is suggested.