title: Long-term disease-free survival following dendritic cell therapy and resection of small bowel melanoma metastases - a case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although the resection of solitary visceral melanoma metastases is indicated when possible, further progression of metastatic disease is seen in the vast majority of patients. New modalities of immunotherapy can offer durable disease control in a significant proportion of melanoma patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 28-year-old man was diagnosed with stage III melanoma in 2003 and was treated with autologous dendritic cells in the adjuvant setting. Five years later melanoma metastases causing small bowel obstruction were surgically removed and he was retreated with dendritic cells. Following 5 months without disease manifestations, the patient presented with intermittent abdominal discomfort. Following the visualization of a hot spot at the level of the jejunum on 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose position-emission tomography, the patient underwent a laparotomy, during which a solitary melanoma metastasis of the small bowel causing intussusception was resected. The patient has so far remained disease-free, more than one year after the latest surgical intervention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Combined modality treatment with surgery and immunotherapy may result in an improved long-term outcome for patients with metastatic melanoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, UZ Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 101, B-1090 Brussels, Belgium. kim.vanderlinden@uzbrussel.be
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vanderlinden
authors.forename: Sofie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wilgenhof
authors.forename: Nele
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Van De Winkel
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Geers
authors.forename: Kris
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Thielemans
authors.forename: Bart
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Neyns
authors.forename: Kristel
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: De Vogelaere
authors.forename: Georges
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Delvaux
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D064987:Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007414:Intestinal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery*; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D007430:Intraoperative Care; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D011859:Radiography; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult