Mucosal melanoma. Immunological findings in a rare case treated with BCG vaccine, autologous tumor cells, and cytarabine.

A case of mucosal melanoma involved the bronchus, maxillary sinus, and small intestine. Treatment with a combination of autologous tumor cells, BCG vaccine, and cytarabine was given, and the immunological system was investigated regularly. After each treatment episode, there was a transient improvement of the cell-mediated immunity to melanoma antigens. The cutaneous delayed hypersensitivity reaction to PPD was converted to a permanently positive one. In the final stage of the disease, the number of T cells was decreased. Difficulty occurred in interpreting the immunological findings according to the clinical condition.