Lymphocytotoxicity in mycosis fungoides.

The phenomenon of lymphocytotoxicity was demonstrated in 29 patients with mycosis fungoides, using a newly described epithelial cell culture system and an isotope marker, 125Iododeoxyuridine (125IUdR). Lymphocytotoxicity was demonstrated in patients in the generalized plaque and the erythroderma phases of the disease (P is less than or equal to 0.05). No significant lymphocytotoxicity was demonstrable in patients who were in the limited plaque (early) phase of the disease. It is hypothesized that this demonstration of lymphocytotoxicity in patients may be a manifestation of a delayed hypersensitivity response to an as yet unidentified antigen in the epidermis.