Possible allogeneic graft-versus-tumor effect in childhood melanoma

J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2003 Dec;25(12):982-6. doi: 10.1097/00043426-200312000-00016.

Abstract

Patients with metastatic melanoma have a very poor prognosis despite contemporary biochemotherapy. A 14-year-old girl with stage IV melanoma and brain metastasis received a nonmyeloablative conditioning and a hematopoietic graft from an HLA-identical sibling. She had progression of disease in the first 2 months after transplantation. After withdrawal of immunosuppressant and establishment of a full donor chimeric status, peripheral disease response was documented by regression of metastatic disease and lack of tumor progression until 1 year after transplantation. She died of progressive disease 21 months after diagnosis and 17 months after transplantation. Her clinical course suggested the possible existence of an allogeneic graft-versus-melanoma response that prolonged her survival.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Brain Neoplasms / secondary
  • Brain Neoplasms / therapy
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Graft Survival
  • Graft vs Tumor Effect*
  • Humans
  • Melanoma / pathology
  • Melanoma / therapy*
  • Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation
  • Transplantation, Homologous
  • Transplantation, Isogeneic