Metastatic melanoma: spontaneous occurrence of auto antibodies is a good prognosis factor in a prospective cohort. (7th December 2011)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Maire, C.; Vercambre‐Darras, S.; Devos, P.; D'Herbomez, M.; Dubucquoi, S.; Mortier, L.
• Is Part Of: Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. Volume 27:Number 1(2013:Jan.)
• Page Start: 92
• Page End: 96
• Publication Date: 2011-12-07
• Subjects: Dermatology -- Periodicals; Sexually transmitted diseases -- Periodicals; 616.5
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-3083.2011.04364.x
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0926-9959

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title>Abstract</title> <p> <bold>Background </bold> Melanoma is an immunogenic tumour type frequently associated with spontaneous auto‐immune manifestations such as spontaneous regression, vitiligo‐like reactions or auto‐immune retinopathy, which seem to be associated with better prognosis.</p> <p> <bold>Objectives </bold> The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the correlation between spontaneous autoimmunity and survival in patients with stage IV melanoma.</p> <p> <bold>Methods </bold> From 2007 to 2008, 103 patients were studied with antithyroid and antinuclear auto antibody assays performed every 6 months. Any detectable occurrence of a spontaneous self antibody (SpSA) at the upper detection limit, at least for one assay, was considered to be a biological marker of autoimmunity.</p> <p> <bold>Results </bold> Univariate and multivariate analyses confirmed significantly longer survival in the absence of known primary melanoma (<italic>P</italic> = 0.044) and in the presence of marker of biologic autoimmunity, independently of previous immunotherapy (<italic>P</italic> = 0.045).</p> <p> <bold>Conclusions </bold> This prospective and comparative study is, to our knowledge, the first to report the frequency of SpSA in stage IV melanoma. Our results suggest that spontaneous autoimmunity, through a rupture of self‐tolerance, is a good prognostic factor in a subgroup of patients with stage IV melanoma.</p> </abstract>