The histological and immunohistochemical changes in the skin of patients with melanoma who develop changes in skin pigmentation following immunotherapy.
The histological and immunocytochemical appearances of skin with altered pigmentation from two patients receiving chemoimmunotherapy for melanoma were examined. In both patients, there was a clinical response to treatment coincident with depigmentation of skin and hair. Skin biopsies showed extensive infiltration with CD8+ and CD4+ lymphocytes rather than CD57+ in the depigmented areas suggestive of a specific MHC-related cytotoxic T-cell activity against melanocytes. In keeping with this, MHCII expression was markedly up-regulated. These observations suggest the development of a simultaneous anti-tumour and anti-melanocyte immune response stimulated by chemoimmunotherapy, possibly against the same or similar antigens.
D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006200:Hair Color / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010859:Pigmentation Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D012880:Skin Pigmentation / Q000187:drug effects*
D007370:Interferon Type I; D007376:Interleukin-2; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D002945:Cisplatin