Abstract
Melanoma-associated leukoderma (MAL) is a relatively uncommon phenomenon in the literature that can present (1) before melanoma detection, (2) after detection and before treatment, and (3) after treatment with immunotherapeutic agents. We report a case of MAL in an 83-year-old man after treatment with high dose IL-2 for metastatic melanoma and further describe the literature of the underlying mechanisms behind it that involve the immune system. Cytotoxic CD8+T cells are thought the mediate the process at a cellular level. Self-antigens (e.g. MART-1/2, gp100, tyrosinase) have been presented on the surface of both normal and malignant melanocytes and mediate the development of MAL after cytotoxic CD8+T cells attack both cell types. Autoimmune manifestations have a positive effect on tumor immunity, with patients at stage III and stage IV melanoma showing a better prognosis after leukoderma development. In addition, immunotherapy-induced leukoderma has been associated with a higher therapeutic response rate. Recently, newer immunotherapeutic drugs, such as vemurafenib and ipilimumab, have been associated with leukoderma as a side effect.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 197-200 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | Acta dermato-venereologica |
Volume | 95 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2015 |
Keywords
- Autoimmunity
- Immunotherapy
- Leukoderma
- Melanoma
- Vitiligo
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Dermatology