Melanoma and Vitiligo: In Good Company

Abstract

Cutaneous melanoma represents the most aggressive form of skin cancer, whereas vitiligo is an autoimmune disorder that leads to progressive destruction of skin melanocytes. However, vitiligo has been associated with cutaneous melanoma since the 1970s. Most of the antigens recognized by the immune system are expressed by both melanoma cells and normal melanocytes, explaining why the autoimmune response against melanocytes that led to vitiligo could be also present in melanoma patients. Leukoderma has been also observed as a side effect of melanoma immunotherapy and has always been associated with a favorable prognosis. In this review, we discuss several characteristics of the immune system responses shared by melanoma and vitiligo patients, as well as the significance of occurrence of leukoderma during immunotherapy, with special attention to check-point inhibitors.

Immune Manifestations with Checkpoint Inhibitors in a Single Brazilian Center: Experience and Literature Review

“…Our experience confirms this observation in our melanoma cohort. Patients with autoimmune toxicity had better survival than patients without autoimmune toxicity, and our data also points to this conclusion [24][25][26]. Our study has several limitations given its retrospective design, risk of incomplete data collection, and variations in the documentation.…”

Vitiligo and chronic autoimmune thyroiditis

“…[ 11 ] The association with human leukocyte antigen (HLA) expression is well recognized [ 11 ]. Immune anomalies are underlining vitiligo and also connecting it with the risk of developing melanoma [ 12 ]. Signal transduction pathways like the Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK-STAT) play a role in the pathogenic loop of vitiligo [ 13 ].…”

Reduction of T Lymphoma Cells and Immunological Invigoration in a Patient Concurrently Affected by Melanoma and Sezary Syndrome Treated With Nivolumab

“…An overall boosting of patient’s immune responses was also attested by the development of vitiligo-like skin lesions, an AE of IC inhibitors frequently observed in melanoma patients ( 35 ). This AE is associated with a favorable prognosis and depends on immune responses against antigens shared by melanoma and normal melanocytes ( 35 ). Presently, we can not exclude that immune response against some tumor antigens shared between SS cells and melanoma could have contributed to SS response to therapy.…”

“…An overall boosting of patient's immune responses was also attested by the development of vitiligo-like skin lesions, an AE of IC inhibitors frequently observed in melanoma patients (35). This AE is associated with a favorable prognosis and depends on immune responses against antigens shared by melanoma and normal melanocytes (35).…”