Alterations of lymphocyte subpopulations in choroidal melanoma patients undergoing surgery.

Purpose: The alterations of lymphocyte subpopulations assessment after surgery in choroidal melanoma patients compared to cataract patients.

Material and methods: 12 patients with malignant melanoma of the choroid, 10 patients subjected to surgery due to cataract. Methods--flow cytometric measurement of absolute lymphocyte count, the number of all T cells (CD3+), T helper lymphocytes (CD3+ CD4+), T cytotoxic lymphocytes (CD3+CD8+), B lymphocytes (CD19+), NK cells (CD3-CD16+) and T cells (CD3+) cells with gammasigma TCR, on the day of surgery and two days after it.

Results: Comparable numbers of cells were observed in both groups prior to surgery, but the behavior of some populations differed: CD3+, CD3+CD4+ cells increased in melanoma patients whereas they decreased in reference group, the number of T lymphocytes with gammasigma TCR was significantly higher in melanoma patients before surgery and it did not differ after it.

Conclusions: Though there were no significant differences in lymphocyte subpopulations between melanoma patients and the reference group, it seems that the presence of tumour influences the reactivity of the immune system to the trauma (surgery).