Dinitrophenyl hapten with laser immunotherapy for advanced malignant melanoma: A clinical study

The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of immunotherapy with dinitrophenyl (DNP) hapten in combination with laser therapy for patients with malignant melanoma (MM). Between February 2008 and March 2012, 72 patients with stage III or IV MM were enrolled. Patients received DNP alone (n=32) or in combination with laser therapy (n=32), and each group received dacarbazine chemotherapy. The levels of peripheral cluster of differentiation (CD)4 CD25 regulatory T cells (Tregs), interleukin (IL)-10 and tumor growth factor (TGF)-β were detected by ELISA. The association between delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) and survival time was evaluated. Although peripheral Treg levels significantly decreased over time in the two groups (P