title: Successful palliation of stenosing anorectal melanoma by intratumoral injections with natural interferon-beta.
abstract: Anorectal malignant melanoma is an uncommon tumour. Unlike for cutaneous melanoma, there are few guidelines for its optimal management. In particular, very few palliative treatment strategies have been described for patients with advanced disease. We report on an 80 year old patient with locally advanced anorectal melanoma nearly completely blocking the anal orifice and disseminated metastases. Complete regression of the primary tumour and partial remission of the metastases was achieved with intratumoral injections of natural interferon-beta and systemic administration of dacarbazine. The quality of life in this patient was improved markedly by providing relief from severe rectal pain and bleeding. We propose that conservative treatment strategies such as intratumoral injections with interferon-beta should be considered as a palliative treatment option for stenosing anorectal melanoma before an abdominoperineal resection is recommended.
authors.affiliation: Universitäts-Hautklinik, Eberhard-Karls-Universität, Liebermeisterstr. 25, D-72076 Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ulmer
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Metzger
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fierlbeck
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001005:Anus Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic; D003606:Dacarbazine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015552:Injections, Intralesional; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008545:Melanoma / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D010166:Palliative Care; D011788:Quality of Life; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D012005:Rectal Prolapse / Q000209:etiology; D012074:Remission Induction
chemical_list: D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D016899:Interferon-beta; D003606:Dacarbazine