Cryotherapy plus imiquimod active in cutaneous melanoma mets

(HealthDay)—Cryotherapy combined with topical imiquimod 5 percent is an active treatment for locoregional cutaneous metastases of melanoma (LCMM), according to research published online Dec. 12 in the Journal of Dermatology.

Noting that treatment of LCMM represents a therapeutic challenge, Nancy Rivas-Tolosa, M.D., from the Instituto Valenciano de Oncología in Valencia, Spain, and colleagues evaluated the efficacy of the combination of cryotherapy and topical imiquimod 5 percent for treating the disease. The authors documented the locoregional cutaneous response to the treatment in 20 patients diagnosed with LCMM.

The researchers found that 65 percent of patients responded to treatment after a mean of five sessions: 40 percent with complete response and 25 percent with partial response. In 80 percent of patients, systemic disease progressed.

"Cryotherapy followed by topical imiquimod 5 percent is simple to apply, has minimal adverse effects, and provides response rates similar to other, more complex treatment options," the authors write.