[Melanoma while using levodopa due to Parkinson's disease--causal association unlikely].
A 75-year-old woman with Parkinson's disease presented with an amelanotic melanoma on her right lower leg with an inguinal lymph node metastasis. For the previous six years she had been treated with levodopa-carbidopa. The disease disappeared after inguinal lymph node dissection and hyperthermic isolated regional perfusion. It is sometimes thought that levodopa may have an activating effect on melanoma, due to its possible role in the biosynthetic pathway of melanin. However, on the basis of the literature available, such a causal association is unlikely.
Universitair Medisch Centrum St Radboud, afd. Heelkunde, subafd. Chirurgische Oncologie, Postbus 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen.
Th
T
Wobbes
J J
JJ
Bonenkamp
D000368:Aged; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010478:Chemotherapy, Cancer, Regional Perfusion; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg; D007980:Levodopa / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008543:Melanins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018328:Melanoma, Amelanotic / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy
D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D008543:Melanins; D007980:Levodopa