Evaluation of the Response of Unresectable Primary Cutaneous Melanoma to Immunotherapy Visualized With Reflectance Confocal Microscopy: A Report of 2 Cases. uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • IMPORTANCE: Melanoma incidence and the use of systemic treatments for it are rising. Current treatment monitoring uses clinical examination and radiologic examinations; however, cutaneous involvement and cutaneous metastasis may not be well visualized. Reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) is a US Food and Drug Administration-approved, noninvasive technology that enables visualization of the skin with quasihistological resolution. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility of using RCM to monitor advanced melanomas treated with immunotherapy. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This case report study took place from March 2017 to June 2018 and included 2 patients with locally advanced melanoma who were not candidates for surgery or were not willing to have surgery and who were started on an immunotherapy regimen at a tertiary care cancer hospital. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Clinical and RCM findings correlated with histopathology. RESULTS: In the patients, locally advanced melanoma with cutaneous involvement was treated with immunotherapy (pembrolizumab in 1 patient and an ipilimumab-nivolumab combination in the other) with resulting clearance of the lesions. Use of RCM showed the disappearance of clear melanoma features seen at baseline; these findings correlated with histopathology. The response was not seen with radiologic images, such as magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Although RCM will not replace larger field imaging (such as magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography, and computed tomography) in the management and follow-up of melanoma or other tumors, for imaging of cutaneous involvement and disease monitoring, RCM holds promise as a novel noninvasive technique.

publication date

  • March 1, 2019

Research

keywords

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Melanoma
  • Scalp
  • Skin Neoplasms

Identity

PubMed Central ID

  • PMC6440283

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 85059963872

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1200/JCO.2014.58.3377

PubMed ID

  • 30624578

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 155

issue

  • 3