title: Malignant melanoma showing a rapid response to nivolumab.
abstract: Malignant melanoma is a highly aggressive skin tumour, with a recent rise in incidence. Nivolumab is a recently developed anti-programmed cell death-1 immune checkpoint inhibitor and its usage has resulted in a significant improvement in the overall survival of patients with metastatic melanomas. We report a case of advanced melanoma that showed a significant and rapid response to nivolumab treatment. The patient displayed multiple melanoma-associated vitiligo prior to treatment; this symptom was theorised to indicate potentially immunoreactive melanoma and the need for nivolumab. In addition, interferon-β was injected prior to nivolumab treatment. The significant rapid response to nivolumab suggested the induction of a marked immune response against melanoma by interferon-β. Therefore, interferon-β could be a useful and effective adjuvant for nivolumab therapy.
authors: Department of Dermatology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto, Japan.
authors: Miho
authors: M
authors: Tsutsumi
authors: Department of Dermatology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto, Japan.
authors: Jun
authors: J
authors: Asai
authors: Department of Dermatology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto, Japan.
authors: Makoto
authors: M
authors: Wada
authors: Department of Dermatology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto, Japan.
authors: Hideya
authors: H
authors: Takenaka
authors: Department of Dermatology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto, Japan.
authors: Norito
authors: N
authors: Katoh
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001365:Axilla; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008545:Melanoma / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009333:Neck; D000077594:Nivolumab; D014820:Vitiligo / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000077594:Nivolumab; D016899:Interferon-beta
keywords: interferon-β; lymph node metastasis; melanoma; melanoma associated vitiligo; nivolumab