title: Cutaneous side effects associated with interleukin 2 administration for metastatic melanoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cutaneous changes associated with recombinant interleukin 2 (r IL-2) administration are frequent but have been rarely studied in a large series.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We analyzed these clinical, microscopic, and immunologic changes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with metastatic melanoma treated with r IL-2 were studied. The eruption was scored as mild or severe. Biopsy specimens were obtained for histopathology, ultrastructural analysis, and immunophenotyping. Chi-square and t tests were used for statistics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-five patients were included. Eruptions were observed in 56 of 78 cycles (72%); 53 were mild with a burning pruriginous erythema, and 3 were severe with urticaria, necrotic lesions, and blisters. Regression was constant without sequelae. Pathologic changes were mild with a mononuclear cell infiltrate of activated helper T phenotype, expressing LFA-1. Keratinocytes and endothelial cells displayed intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and HLA-DR. Cells rarely expressed CD25.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Administration of r IL-2 triggers non-treatment-limiting cutaneous inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Hôpital Henri Mondor, Créteil, France.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wolkenstein
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Chosidow
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wechsler
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Guillaume
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Lescs
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brandely
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Avril
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Revuz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D003875:Drug Eruptions / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D011994:Recombinant Proteins