Related Experiment Videos
The skin: an immunoreactive target organ during interleukin-2 administration?
1Department of Dermatology, University of Würzburg Medical School, FRG.
Dermatologica
|January 1, 1991
Summary
Systemic interleukin-2 (IL-2) therapy for melanoma caused skin rashes. These reactions, linked to elevated cytokines, indicate the skin is a target organ and distinct from drug eruptions.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Dermatology
- Immunology
Background:
- Metastatic malignant melanoma is a serious cancer.
- Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is used in systemic therapy for melanoma.
- Skin reactions can occur during IL-2 treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the nature of skin reactions in patients treated with dacarbazine and IL-2.
- To determine if these skin reactions are a direct effect of IL-2 therapy.
Main Methods:
- Six patients with metastatic malignant melanoma were treated with dacarbazine and IL-2.
- Clinical observation of skin changes.
- Measurement of serum interferon-gamma and tumor necrosis factor alpha.
- Histological and immunohistochemical analysis of skin biopsies.
Main Results:
- All patients developed a macular erythematous rash and scaling after IL-2 infusion.
- Elevated serum levels of interferon-gamma and tumor necrosis factor alpha were observed.
- Skin histology showed spongiotic changes and a perivascular mononuclear infiltrate.
- Immunohistochemistry identified activated T helper lymphocytes and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 expression.
Conclusions:
- Systemic IL-2 administration can induce specific skin reactions.
- These reactions are associated with cytokine elevation and T-cell activation.
- The skin acts as a target organ in IL-2 therapy.
- Dermatological changes should be differentiated from drug eruptions.