Anti-tyrosinase antibodies in malignant melanoma.

Anti-tyrosinase antibodies were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in sera of patients with malignant melanoma with either metastatic disease or no evidence of disease, in patients with melanoma and associated hypopigmentation (MAH), in patients with vitiligo and in healthy volunteers. The mean relative absorbance (Arel) was calculated by dividing the absorbance of each sample by the mean value for the control group. Using this method, the Arel of the control group was 1.000(SE 0.083). Arel of patients with metastatic disease (1.516; SE 0.225) was significantly higher (P = 0.03) than the value for the controls, but insignificantly higher than that for patients with no evidence of disease (1.216; SE 0.148). Patients with no evidence of disease, in whom the primary lesion originated in the lower limb, had a significantly higher (P = 0.01) Arel than the healthy volunteers. Patients with metastatic disease showed higher Arel if their primary lesions were confined to the area of the head and neck or to the lower limb. Patients with vitiligo had higher Arel values for their anti-tyrosinase antibody than any of the other groups. However, those with melanoma and MAH (vitiligo-like) had the same Arel of anti-tyrosinase antibodies as the controls or the patients with metastatic melanoma. This observation reflected the possible absorption of anti-tyrosinase antibodies to melanoma antigens, and pointed to the participation of anti-tyrosinase antibodies in the destruction of normal melanocytes in patients with melanoma, as part of the immune reaction towards this disease.

X-ray microanalysis of ossified auricles in Addison's disease.

The element content of ossified auricles in two patients with Addison's disease was determined by X-ray microanalysis. The results showed a similar element content of the ossified auricles of the Addison's patients and control bone specimens. The calcium and phosphorus content of the petrified auricles was, however, slightly decreased compared with the iliac bone biopsies of the patients. The sulfur content of the ossified auricles was higher than that of their bones, but markedly lower than control auricular cartilage. Iron, sodium, and chloride contents were similar in the ossified auricles and in the normal auricular cartilage, whereas only trace amounts of these elements were detected in the bone. The auricles of the patients with Addison's disease possessed relatively high aluminium content compared with both control bone and cartilage. The element content of the bone biopsies from Addison patients was comparable to control bone. The presence of trace amounts of aluminium in the petrified auricles of Addison's patients is probably attributed to a long period of aluminium hydroxide consumption.