title: Safety of long-term levodopa therapy in malignant melanoma.
abstract: Levodopa therapy is contraindicated in malignant melanoma because of its apparent carcinogenic effects reported by physicians in the early 1970s. We discuss the case of a 74-year-old man with Parkinson's disease who was treated with levodopa and whose malignant melanoma was later diagnosed. Before development of malignant melanoma, the patient received an estimated 5.7 kg levodopa over 6 years. Therapy with levodopa was continued for > 10 years, with a total dose of approximately 4.3 kg levodopa (together with carbidopa.) Recurrence of the melanoma was not observed. Based on our experience with this patient and an extensive literature review, we conclude that the natural history of malignant melanoma is not adversely influenced by concurrent levodopa therapy. Levodopa therapy should not be withheld for fear of accelerating malignant melanoma in parkinsonian patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield 62794-9230, USA.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Woofter
authors.forename: B V
authors.initials: BV
authors.lastname: Manyam
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000150:complications*; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D007980:Levodopa