Nivolumab, contact immunotx treats in-transit melanoma

(HealthDay)—Nivolumab in combination with contact immunotherapy can successfully treat in-transit melanoma, according to two case reports published online Dec. 12 in the Journal of Dermatology.

Taku Fujimura, M.D., Ph.D., from the Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine in Sendai, Japan, and colleagues describe two cases of metastatic melanoma successfully treated with nivolumab in combination with contact immunotherapy.

Firstly, the authors describe the case of a 68-year-old man with multiple nodules and prominent lymph edema on his left foot. He was diagnosed with in-transit melanoma. The patient was administered squaric acid dibutylester every two weeks. Three months after administration, focal vitiligo developed around the in-transit metastases, and nivolumab was administered. Almost all the in-transit metastasis was diminished with prominent vitiligo at six months after nivolumab administration. The second patient was an 83-year-old woman with multiple nodules and edema on her left lower extremities. She was also diagnosed with in-transit melanoma, and was topically administered diphencyprone every two weeks. Two months later, extensive vitiligo developed in the lower left extremities and nivolumab was administered. Almost all in-transit metastasis had diminished with prominent vitiligo at six months after nivolumab administration.

"Our present cases suggested a possible therapy for metastatic melanoma using nivolumab in combination with contact immunotherapy," the authors write.

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