title: Spontaneous regression of metastatic melanoma - clinical evidence of the abscopal effect.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Metastatic melanoma is poorly understood. Regression of primary lesions has been associated with poor prognosis, but spontaneous regression of all metastatic disease is clearly beneficial. A patient's own immune responses occasionally appear to stimulate spontaneous regression of metastatic disease in melanoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present six interesting cases of complete or nearly complete spontaneous regression of metastatic melanoma, suggest possible causes and review the literature.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These cases show clear radiological, pathological or clinical evidence of spontaneous regression of metastatic melanoma. This remains a poorly understood phenomena warranting further investigation and may prove useful in the development of immune mediated solutions.
authors.affiliation: Leeds General Infirmary, Great George Street, Leeds LS13EX, UK. Electronic address: rjbramhall@yahoo.co.uk.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Bramhall
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Leeds General Infirmary, UK.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mahady
authors.affiliation: Leeds General Infirmary, Great George Street, Leeds LS13EX, UK.
authors.forename: A H S
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Peach
mesh_terms: D000008:Abdominal Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000556:secondary; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000556:secondary; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000175:diagnosis; D009365:Neoplasm Regression, Spontaneous / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010386:Pelvic Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000556:secondary; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
keywords: Spontaneous regression metastatic melanoma abscopal effect