Major histocompatibility complex‐tetramer testing identified cluster of differentiation 8 positive (CD8+) cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) for each tumor antigen. Pre‐specified criteria for positive tetramer results was >0.02% tetramer positive CD8+ CTLs if baseline negative, or >2‐fold increase in the baseline detectable number. We detected low baseline levels of peripheral CD8+ CTLs against known melanoma antigens MART‐1, GP100, and Tyrosinase (7 of 8 evaluable patients). There was no significant induction of CD8+ CTL responses to melanoma antigens following treatment.
Abbreviations: GP100, glycoprotein 100; MART‐1, melanoma antigen recognized by T cells 1.