Untreated stage IV melanoma patients exhibit abnormal monocyte phenotypes and decreased functional capacity.

ABSTRACT: Monocytes may contribute to tumor progression in part by mediating tumor-induced immunosuppression. Alterations to the monocyte populations and functions in untreated patients with late-stage melanoma are not fully understood. To characterize these alterations, we compared the frequency, phenotype, and functional capacity of peripheral blood monocytes and other myeloid cells in untreated, newly diagnosed stage IV melanoma patients (n = 18) with those in healthy volunteers. Stage IV untreated melanoma patients exhibited a sizeable decrease in the percentage of monocytes (P < 0.0001) that included a drop in the percentage of the CD14(+)CD16(-) classical monocyte pool (P = 0.006). Although there was not a significant difference in the CD14(+)HLA-DR(low/-) monocyte population between the patie

SUBMITTER: Chavan R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4007317 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature