Influenza Vaccine Response in Patients with Locally Advanced or Metastatic Melanoma
This trial studies response to influenza vaccine in patients with melanoma that has spread from where it started to nearby tissue or lymph nodes (locally advanced) or other places in the body (metastatic). After exposure to a potential pathogen or vaccine, the body’s white blood cells are mobilized to help defend the body. Some of these white blood cells are known as T cells. As the infection is passing, the immune system is left with a “memory” of the infection in the T cells, which can then recognize the pathogen much more quickly the next time the infection occurs. Memory T cells are also formed after vaccination. However, many aspects of memory T cell formation are unknown, especially for those T cells that help other cells, known as T helper cells or CD4 cells. T helper cell help is critical for later production of the proteins that help defend against influenza infection. Understanding the establishment of memory cells may help future efforts to develop better vaccines.