A prospective study of cutaneous adverse events induced by low-dose alpha-interferon treatment for malignant melanoma

alpha-Interferon is associated with numerous cutaneous side effects, but the accurate incidence of these complications is not clearly known.

A prospective study was designed to evaluate the incidence and clinical pattern of cutaneous side effects in a cohort of patients receiving adjuvant therapy with low-dose interferon for malignant melanoma.

A cohort of 33 patients with stage IIA and IIB melanoma treated with low-dose alpha-interferon (3 MIU 3 times a week for 18 months) were prospectively enrolled in a single-center study. The patients responded to a questionnaire on their medical history and were systematically examined for any cutaneous lesions before treatment and every 3 months afterwards.

29/33 patients (87%) experienced 1 or more cutaneous side effects. The most frequent was hair loss and occurred in 16 cases (48.4%). Hair discoloration was noted in 6 cases (18%). Eczematous reactions at injection sites or at remote sites were observed in 13 patients (39%). Pruritus occurred in 10 cases (30%). Xerostomia, Raynaud's phenomenon or livedo reticularis were observed in 10 patients, associated with an increase in circulating autoantibody titer in 2 cases. Some rare side effects were observed: urticaria (1 case) or angioedema (1 case), worsening of preexisting seborrheic dermatitis (3 cases), herpetic recurrence (2 cases), pityriasis versicolor (1 case), worsening of recurrent buccal aphthous ulcer (1 case) and vitiligo (1 case).

Cutaneous adverse events during adjuvant immunotherapy of melanoma with low-dose alpha-interferon seem to be frequent but do not result in treatment discontinuation. A good awareness of these side effects may be useful for a more accurate survey and clinical management of patients receiving this treatment.