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BCG immunotherapy in stage I melanoma patients

Does it influence prognosis determined by HLA-DR expression in high-risk primary tumors?

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Summary

Previously, we have provided evidence for a positive correlation between HLA-DR expression in primary melanoma and early metastasis [3, 4]. In the present study we investigated whether this relationship was modified by adjuvant BCG immunotherapy. The study comprised 107 patients with a stage I high-risk melanoma; 44 patients had been treated with BCG, whereas the remaining patients had not received any adjuvant therapy. There was no difference in disease-free survival between BCG-treated and untreated patients. Disease-free survival was significantly shorter in patients with high expression of HLA-DR antigens in the primary tumor.

Subgrouping BCG-treated and control patients according to HLA-DR phenotype of the melanoma revealed a prolongation of disease-free survival in the subgroup of BCG-treated patients with no or low expression of HLA-DR antigens in the primary melanoma. BCG therapy apparently did not influence prognosis of patients with high expression of HLA-DR antigens in the tumor.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, University of Münster, Von-Esmarch-Straße 56

    E. B. Bröcker, B. M. Czarnetzki & E. Macher

  2. Fachklinik Hornheide, Münster, D-4400, Münster, Federal Republic of Germany

    L. Suter

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  1. E. B. Bröcker
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  2. L. Suter
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  3. B. M. Czarnetzki
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  4. E. Macher
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Bröcker, E.B., Suter, L., Czarnetzki, B.M. et al. BCG immunotherapy in stage I melanoma patients. Cancer Immunol Immunother 23, 155–157 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00199823

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00199823

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