Bilateral areolar leiomyomas in a patient undergoing BRAF inhibition therapy for melanoma

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Dermatology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• BRAF inhibitors are crucial for treating BRAF-mutated melanomas.
• Cutaneous side effects of BRAF inhibitors are well-documented, including various neoplastic and non-neoplastic lesions.
• Reported side effects include squamous cell carcinomas, verrucous keratoses, and acantholytic dyskeratosis.

Observation:

• A patient with disseminated melanoma (V600E mutation) received BRAF inhibition therapy (vemurafenib).
• The patient developed bilateral areolar leiomyomas.
• One leiomyoma was biopsied, and the other resolved upon vemurafenib discontinuation.

Findings:

• This case represents the first reported instance of a mesenchymal neoplasm associated with BRAF inhibition therapy.
• Leiomyoma development may be a previously unrecognized side effect of BRAF inhibitors like vemurafenib.
• The resolution of leiomyoma after drug cessation suggests a potential causal link.

Implications:

• Clinicians should be aware of potential mesenchymal neoplasms as a rare side effect of BRAF inhibitors.
• Further research is needed to understand the mechanism linking BRAF inhibition to leiomyoma formation.
• This finding expands the spectrum of known cutaneous adverse events associated with targeted melanoma therapy.