Alterations of acyl-neuraminic acids on T-lymphocytes in cases of melanoma.

Content and distribution of the different sialic acids on human lymphocytes, isolated from 7-10 ml of fresh human blood, were determined using microanalytical methods, such as HPLC and a colorimetric test. Comparison of the data of patients with melanoma with those of healthy persons shows an evident increase of the sialic acid content combined with a shift of the sialic acid distribution to higher O-acetylated derivatives.