Accumulation of identical T cells in melanoma and vitiligo-like leukoderma

The cloning of genes encoding melanoma antigens has opened new possibilitie s for the treatment of patients with cancer; however, most tumor rejection antigens recognized by tumor infiltrating lymphocytes are the products of g enes that are also expressed by normal melanocytes. Hence, a large set of a ntigenic determinants of the self have not induced self-tolerance and these peptide determinants furnish target structures for immune responses direct ed against tumors. The notion that the immunotherapeutic targets involved i n cancer regression comprise normal differentiation antigens is stressed by the association between vitiligo-like leukoderma, due to destruction of no rmal melanocytes, and melanoma regression, due to destruction of cancer cel ls. Nevertheless, this is the first report to demonstrate by means of a new technique based on reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and den aturing gradient gel electrophoresis, the presence of clonally expanded T c ells with identical BV regions in areas of destruction of both normal and n eoplastic cells.