Melanomas can develop at several different anatomical sites including the eye and skin. Although skin and eye melanomas share a common cellular origin, the pathobiology of ocular melanomas is unique and distinct from skin tumors. Ocular melanomas are distinguished by their: histological appearance, pattern of tumor growth, expression of melanoma-associated-antigens, and metastatic spread. Moreover, ocular tumors in mice induce a deviant cell-mediated immune response. Despite these uncommon characteristics, relatively little information is known about the T cell mediated immune response to human choroidal melanomas. In this grant application we propose to: (a) determine if human choroidal melanomas are immunogenic by characterizing the cytotoxic T cell and T helper cell responses, and (b) identify the defect in the immune response which prevents cytotoxic T cells from eliminating the tumor. We hypothesize that choroidal melanomas induce a deviant tumor-specific T cell response in which precursor cytotoxic T cells are clonally expanded, but fail to differentiate into cytolytic T cells capable of eliminating tumor cells. The failure to initiate precursor cell differentiation results from an inability of T helper cells to secrete the necessary lymphokines. The implications of this hypothesis are that ocular melanomas induce, an immune response with the potential to eliminate the tumor, if full T helper activity is restored, and cytotoxic T cells are present.
The specific aims of this grant will address the following questions: (1) are precursor cytotoxic T cells present among peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) and tumor-infiltrating-lymphocytes (TIL), (2) are cytotoxic T cells present among TIL capable of lysing ocular melanoma cells in situ, and (3) are T helper cells present among PBL and TIL; what lymphokines are secreted when these cells are restimulated in vitro with tumor antigens.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01EY009294-04
Application #
2162893
Study Section
Visual Sciences A Study Section (VISA)
Project Start
1993-05-01
Project End
1997-04-30
Budget Start
1995-05-01
Budget End
1996-04-30
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
1995
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Schepens Eye Research Institute
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02114
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