Cutaneous side effects associated with interleukin 2 administration for metastatic melanoma

Cutaneous changes associated with recombinant interleukin 2 (r IL-2) administration are frequent but have been rarely studied in a large series.

We analyzed these clinical, microscopic, and immunologic changes.

Patients with metastatic melanoma treated with r IL-2 were studied. The eruption was scored as mild or severe. Biopsy specimens were obtained for histopathology, ultrastructural analysis, and immunophenotyping. Chi-square and t tests were used for statistics.

Twenty-five patients were included. Eruptions were observed in 56 of 78 cycles (72%); 53 were mild with a burning pruriginous erythema, and 3 were severe with urticaria, necrotic lesions, and blisters. Regression was constant without sequelae. Pathologic changes were mild with a mononuclear cell infiltrate of activated helper T phenotype, expressing LFA-1. Keratinocytes and endothelial cells displayed intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and HLA-DR. Cells rarely expressed CD25.

Administration of r IL-2 triggers non-treatment-limiting cutaneous inflammation.