title: Spontaneous regression of multiple melanocytic nevi after melanoma: report of 3 cases.
abstract: Complete spontaneous regression of multiple melanocytic nevi after melanoma is an extremely rare phenomenon. We report 3 cases of patients with a history of melanoma that showed regression of almost all melanocytic nevi over time. One of the patients had 2 simultaneous primary cutaneous melanomas without metastasis. In the other 2 patients, regression of the melanocytic nevi was seen after the development of metastasis in lymph nodes. These patients had spontaneously developed an efficient immune response against melanocytes, and they would represent paradigmatic examples of the spontaneous immune responses in melanoma patients. Better understanding of the mechanisms involved in the complete regression of melanocytic lesions would lead to a better selection of melanoma patients for immunotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Departments of *Dermatology, and †Pathology, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Valencia, Spain; and ‡School of Medicine, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: José M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Martín
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pinazo
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Monteagudo
authors.forename: Jelena
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Markovic
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Allende
authors.forename: Esperanza
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jordá
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D046169:Dermoscopy; D018450:Disease Progression; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D008545:Melanoma / Q000276:immunology / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D009365:Neoplasm Regression, Spontaneous; D009508:Nevus, Pigmented / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000096142:Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma