Changes in the expression of molecular markers of peripheral blood lymphocyte activation in patients with small (T1) choroidal melanoma after transpupillary thermotherapy

Abstract

Background: Expression of some functional molecules on peripheral blood lymphocytes is critically important for the development of adequate antitumor response. Purpose: To investigate changes in the expression of molecular markers of peripheral blood lymphocyte activation in patients with small (T1) choroidal melanoma (CM; measuring ? 3 mm in protrusion into the vitreous and ? 12 mm in basal dimension) after transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT) delivered using our methodology. Materials and Methods: We investigated the expression of molecular markers (СD7+, CD25+, CD38+, CD45+, CD54+, CD95+, CD150+) of peripheral blood lymphocyte activation using the routine methodology in 16 patients (12 women (75%) and 4 men (25%); mean age, 55.4 years (11.2 years)) with small (T1) CM at baseline and after a course of TTT delivered using our methodology. Statistical analyses were conducted using Statistica 10 (StatSoft, Tulsa, OK, USA) software. Results: Four-day activity of all examined peripheral blood lymphocyte subpopulations in patients was observed in response to the curative effect of 810-nm diode laser TTT on CM. However, statistically significant increases were found only for the expression of the costimulatory molecule inducing cytokine secretion (CD7+) and proaptotic lymphocyte activity due to an increased share of CD95+-phenotype cells. Conclusion: The expression of molecular markers of peripheral blood lymphocyte activation, especially the expression of the costimulatory molecule inducing cytokine secretion (CD7+) and proaptotic lymphocyte activity due to an increased share of CD95+-phenotype cells, increases within the course of TTT for the small (T1) CM.

Keywords

• choroidal melanoma
• transpupillary thermotherapy
• molecular markers of peripheral blood lymphocyte activation