Combination therapy improves immune response and prognosis in patients with advanced oral mucosal melanoma: A clinical treatment success.

OBJECTIVE

This study was undertaken to analyze disease response and immune response to assess treatment effectiveness and success in patients with advanced oral mucosal melanoma treated with cytokines injection, cryosurgery, and adoptive cell transfer therapy.

STUDY

DESIGN

Ten patients were enrolled in the study, and the relevant characteristics and immunologic differences were evaluated.

RESULTS

All patients achieved an objective clinical response according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors, including 7 cases of continuing complete remission (55, 27, 87 + , 58+, 58 + , 45 + , and 37 + months) and 3 cases of partial remission (30, 12, and 9 months). Five responders are currently alive. After combination therapy, we observed that the proportion of CD3+ lymphocytes and the secretion of interferon-γ increased, whereas interleukin-10 decreased. In the assay of improved cytokine-induced killer cells, CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells declined, and natural killer cells upregulated. Meanwhile, the proliferation rate of in vitro cultured improved cytokine-induced killer cells improved after courses of therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Combination therapy of cytokine injection, cryosurgery, and transfer of improved cytokine-induced killer cells may be a promising approach for patients with oral mucosal melanoma.