[Correlation of the level of humoral cytotoxins and delayed hypersensitivity skin reactions with survival of patients with melanoma of the skin].

The study was concerned with relationships between blood-humoral cytotoxin level, time-delayed hypersensitivity skin reaction to DNCB and 3- and 5-year survival in skin melanoma patients. Humoral cytotoxin level proved to be irrelevant for prognosis, although this index may be sometimes used as a supplementary criterion for evaluating immunocompetence. Skin reactions to DNCB provide a valuable prognostic means in skin melanoma patients: 3- and 5-year survival rates are significantly higher in patients showing positive reaction than in those with negative reaction.