Primary Treatment of Eyelid Conjunctival Melanoma with Immunotherapy: A Case Report

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Oncology
• Immunology

Background:

• Conjunctival melanoma is a rare but aggressive ocular cancer with high recurrence and metastasis rates.
• Current treatments for conjunctival melanoma have limitations, and the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) is largely unknown.
• ICIs like ipilimumab and nivolumab have transformed cutaneous melanoma treatment.

Observation:

• A case of metastatic palpebral conjunctival melanoma in a 59-year-old male is presented.
• The patient received first-line treatment with a combination of ipilimumab and nivolumab.
• No adjuvant therapies or local surgeries were administered.

Findings:

• Successful local disease resolution was achieved within 7 months of ICI treatment.
• The ipilimumab and nivolumab regimen was well-tolerated.
• The treatment resulted in limited systemic adverse effects and no ocular side effects.

Implications:

• This case suggests that ipilimumab and nivolumab combination therapy may be an effective first-line treatment for metastatic conjunctival melanoma.
• The findings support the potential of ICIs in managing this rare ocular malignancy.
• Further research is warranted to explore the broader application and long-term outcomes of ICI therapy in conjunctival melanoma.