title: Treatment of in-transit melanoma with intralesional bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) and topical imiquimod 5% cream: a report of 3 cases.
abstract: Local therapy for in-transit melanoma (ITM) is a treatment alternative for patients who are not good candidates for systemic therapy, regional therapy, or surgical management. In this case report, we describe 3 patients with ITM who were treated with intralesional Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (ILBCG) and/or topical imiquimod. Treatment course was dictated by the clinical response. Patient 1's response to ILBCG monotherapy was not sufficient to cause disease regression; however, transition to topical imiquimod therapy resulted in complete and sustained response. Although patient 2 responded to ILBCG and imiquimod, she developed a hypersensitivity reaction to ILBCG; when topical imiquimod was continued as monotherapy, her clinical response was complete. Patient 3 responded completely to ILBCG monotherapy in injected lesions, but expired shortly thereafter from unrelated disease. Reports like this one are needed to define the success measures of local therapy in the treatment of ITM.
authors.affiliation: Departments of *Dermatology †Surgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT ‡John Wayne Cancer Institute, Santa Monica, CA.
authors.forename: Nour
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kibbi
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ariyan
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Faries
authors.forename: Jennifer N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000287:Administration, Topical; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000634:Aminoquinolines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077271:Imiquimod; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007249:Inflammation; D015552:Injections, Intralesional; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D009163:Mycobacterium bovis / Q000276:immunology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000634:Aminoquinolines; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000077271:Imiquimod