Spontaneous regression of metastatic melanoma - clinical evidence of the abscopal effect

Metastatic melanoma is poorly understood. Regression of primary lesions has been associated with poor prognosis, but spontaneous regression of all metastatic disease is clearly beneficial. A patient's own immune responses occasionally appear to stimulate spontaneous regression of metastatic disease in melanoma.

We present six interesting cases of complete or nearly complete spontaneous regression of metastatic melanoma, suggest possible causes and review the literature.

These cases show clear radiological, pathological or clinical evidence of spontaneous regression of metastatic melanoma. This remains a poorly understood phenomena warranting further investigation and may prove useful in the development of immune mediated solutions.