Diagnostic accuracy in malignant melanoma.

The diagnostic accuracy and index of suspicion concerning malignant melanoma were calculated based on review of 5,538 histologically examined lesions (of which 99 were melanomas) that were recorded in the Oncology Section of the Skin and Cancer Unit from 1955 to 1967. The diagnostic accuracy of the physicians in the Section was determined to be 64.4%.

Retention of antimelanoma effect of polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid in neonatally thymectomized, irradiated, leukopenic mice.

Polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (PIC), a synthetic polyribonucleotide, inhibits the growth of B16 malignant melanoma in C57BL/6 mice. Since PIC has been reported to augment immune responses, we tested the hypothesis that the antitumor effect of PIC against B16 melanoma is via immune stimulation. Mice were neonatally thymectomized or neonatally thymectomized and subsequently irradiated to suppress their immune reactivity.