| Abstract: | ![]()
ACNU solution was applied to plaque lesions once daily for 4 weeks, while 3 million IU/day of Interferon α was injected locally into tumor lesions for 4 weeks. Clinically, ACNU and Interferon α were very effective. To determine the cytological effectiveness of both treatments, T-cell subsets and the NCI of their skin infiltrates in mycosis fungoides (MF) were compared pre- and post-treatment. Using either ACNU and Interferon α, in pre-treatment skin tissue, Leu3a positive cells were dominant, whereas in post-treatment skin tissue, Leu2a positive cells were dominant. As a result, the helper/suppressor T-cell (H/S) ratio in plaque lesion (3.1) was remarkably decreased (0.44) by ACNU treatment and the H/S ratio in tumor lesions was also reduced from 9.3 to 2.6 after injection of Interferon α. Moreover, the NCI of T-cells in plaque lesions decreased from 7.57 ± 1.71 to 4.30 ± 0.75 following treatment with ACNU, and that in tumor lesions was also reduced from 8.62 ± 1.89 to 4.35 ± 1.17 with Interferon α treatment. These immunohistos-chemical staining patterns and immunoelectron microscopic features in post-treatment periods are similar to those of control skin tissue which is not malignant. It was of interest that the antiproliferative effect of Interferon α on Hut 78 cells (Sézary cells) in vitro was demonstrated. Therefore, Interferon α might have direct cytotoxic effects on MF cells similar to that with Sézary cells. These results indicate that both treatments, ACNU and Interferon α, are effective not only clinically but also cytologically. The data also indicate that the NCI of T-cell and T-cell subsets might be used as an indicator of a treatment's effectiveness against MF. |
