title: An Association Between Glatiramer Acetate and Malignant Melanoma.
abstract: A 43-year-old female receiving immunomodulatory therapy with glatiramer acetate (copaxone, GA) for relapsing, remitting multiple sclerosis was diagnosed with stage IIIB melanoma that recurred <7 months after resection and lymphadenectomy. In preparation for systemic therapy the patient discontinued GA, and shortly thereafter experienced spontaneous and complete clinical and radiographic resolution of her disease. The development and subsequent regression of melanoma in this patient may be due to the use and subsequent discontinuation of GA, and our discussion of the case includes the potential immunologic mechanisms that may provide an explanation for our findings. To the best of our knowledge, this case represents the first reported association between the immunomodulatory agent GA and malignant melanoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Cross Cancer Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: AnneLiese
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Smylie
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Smylie
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D000068717:Glatiramer Acetate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D008545:Melanoma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012008:Recurrence; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D012306:Risk; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D028761:Withholding Treatment
chemical_list: D007155:Immunologic Factors; D000068717:Glatiramer Acetate