Lichen planus associated with neoplasia: a cell-mediated immune response to tumor antigens?
BACKGROUND
Individual case reports have suggested an occasional association of lichen planus with internal malignancy.


OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to describe five patients with a neoplastic disease in whom lichen planus developed.


METHODS
Serologic and immunopathologic studies were conducted.


RESULTS
No evidence of autoantibody production characteristic of paraneoplastic pemphigus was found, and antibodies reactive with basal cell keratinocytes were not detected.


CONCLUSIONS
Lichen planus may be rarely induced by neoplasia. A cell-mediated immune reaction possibly causes this phenomenon.
Helm
T N
TN
Department of Dermatology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, OH 44195-5032.
Camisa
C
C
Liu
A Y
AY
Valenzuela
R
R
Bergfeld
W F
WF
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000150:complications; D000328:Adult; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000276:immunology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D018219:Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008010:Lichen Planus / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D017676:Lichen Planus, Oral / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D008224:Lymphoma, Follicular / Q000150:complications; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010257:Paraneoplastic Syndromes / Q000209:etiology*; D012186:Retroperitoneal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D013945:Thymoma / Q000150:complications; D013953:Thymus Neoplasms / Q000150:complications
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm