Interleukins (ILs) and associated cytokines serve as the means of communication for immune cells and non-immune cells. The use of ILs in harnessing the immune system to cancer treatment has been a promising approach. ILs not only nurture an environment enabling cancer growth but also simultaneously trigger a productive tumor-directed immune response. These properties of ILs are increasingly being explored as a strategy to improve the outcomes of cancer. Here, we describe recently innovative technological approaches that have been developed to improve the pharmacokinetics, safety, and efficacies of IL-2, 15, 10, and 18 in the treatment of melanoma. Furthermore, the combination of ILs and immune checkpoint inhibition may synergize to reshape the tumor environment, thus yielding better clinical benefits in the future.
Cytokines ; Humans ; Interleukins ; Melanoma/drug therapy*

Primary malignant melanoma of the esophagus(PMME) is an extremely rare but aggressive disease that composes less than 0.1% of all primary malignant neoplasm of the esophagus. PMME was first reported in 1906 and nearly 180 cases of primary esophageal malignant melanoma have been published in the medical literature. Symptoms of the primary malignant melanoma of the esophagus mimic that of any malignant obstructing lesion of the esophagus and the metastatic spread by lymphatics and vascular routes are common. Resection of the tumor with an anastomotic procedure seems to be the treatment of choice, however prognosis is poor. At present, chemotherapy and immunotherapy have no major role in treatment. We report a case of 67-year-old man with primary malignant melanoma of the esophagus originated from esophageal melanosis with a review of the literature.
Aged ; Drug Therapy ; Esophagus ; Humans ; Immunotherapy ; Melanoma* ; Melanosis* ; Prognosis

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the inhibitory effect of aumolertinib on proliferation of human choroidal melanoma MUM-2B cells and explore the possible molecular mechanism. METHODS: CCK-8 assay and colony formation assay were used to evaluate the inhibitory effect of different concentrations of aumolertinib on viability and proliferation of MUM-2B cells. Flow cytometry was performed to analyze the apoptosis, necrosis, cellular ROS production and cell cycle changes in aumolertinib- treated MUM-2B cells. The antitumor effect of aumolertinib against human choroidal melanoma was observed in nude mouse models bearing MUM-2B tumor cell xenografts. RESULTS: The results of CCK-8 and colony formation assay showed that aumolertinib strongly inhibited the proliferation MUM-2B cells in a dose-dependent manner. Flow cytometry showed that aumolertinib dose-dependently increased the total apoptosis rate of MUM-2B cells to as high as 76.65% at the concentration of 8 μmol/L and induced obvious cell cycle arrest at G1 phase. Aumolertinib treatment also caused a dose-dependent increase of ROS production and reduction of mitochondrial membrane potential in MUM-2B cells. In the tumor-bearing nude mice, treatment with aumolertinib significantly inhibited tumor growth without causing obvious body weight loss. CONCLUSION Aumolertinib can effectively inhibit the growth of human choroidal melanoma MUM-2B cells both in vivo and in vitro, suggesting its potential clinical value in the therapy of choroidal melanomas.
Animals ; Mice ; Humans ; Mice, Nude ; Sincalide ; Indoles ; Melanoma/drug therapy*

Malignant melanoma of the urinary bladder is very rare, 7 cases were reported in the literature. The tumor shows early metastasis with poor prognosis. Treatment measures include surgical extirpation, radiotherapy and chemotherapy but the results were bad.Herein, we report a case of malignant melanoma of the urinary bladder in a 45-year-old man which was managed by transurethral resection and combination chemotherapy.
Drug Therapy ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Humans ; Melanoma* ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Radiotherapy ; Urinary Bladder

Immune therapy has become the fourth approach after surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy in cancer treatment. Many immune checkpoints were identified in the last decade since ipilimumab, which is the first immune checkpoint inhibitor to cytotoxic T-lymphocyte associated protein 4, had been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of unresectable or metastatic melanoma in 2011. The use of several antibody drugs that target PD1/PD-L1 for various cancer treatments has been approved by the FDA. However, fewer people are benefitting from immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment in solid cancers. Approximately 80% of patients do not respond appropriately because of primary or acquired therapeutic resistance. Along with the characterization of more immune checkpoints, the combinatory treatment of multiimmune checkpoint inhibitors becomes a new option when monotherapy could not receive a good response. In this work, the author focuses on the combination therapy of multiple immune checkpoints (does not include targeted therapy of oncogenes or chemotherapy), introduces the current progression of multiple immune checkpoints and their related inhibitors, and discusses the advantages of combination therapy, as well as the risk of immune-related adverse events.
Combined Modality Therapy ; Humans ; Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors ; Immunotherapy ; Melanoma/drug therapy* ; Tumor Escape

Malignant melanoma is one of the most common malignancies associated with metastatic disease to the gastrointestinal tract. Malignant melanotic melanomas metastasized to the stomach and duodenum, stomach, small bowel, and rectum have been reported in Korea. However, amelanotic malignant melanoma metastasized to the gastrointestinal tract, to our knowledge, has not been reported in Korea. Recently, we experienced a case of amelanotic malignant melanoma metastasized to the duodenum in a 48 year-old man. The primary site was presumed to be the soft tissue near the right knee. Pulmonary and pancreatic metastasis were also noted at presentation. Despite systemic chemotherapy, the patient died of progressive disease at about 13 months after presentation.
Drug Therapy ; Duodenum* ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Knee ; Korea ; Melanoma* ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Rectum ; Stomach

We report herein a case of acral lentiginous melanoma in a 65-year-old female. An about 2x3cm sized erythematous to brownish mass with central ulceration was located on the left heel accompanied by enlargement of the left inguinal lymph nodes. Histopathologic findings showed lentiginous proliferation of atypical melanocytes with pseudoepithliomatous hyperplasia and invasion of tumor cells from the epidermis into the dermis. Focal pigmented melanocytes were also noted. Complete surgical excision and chemotherapy with DTIC were done. Marked edematous swelling on the left lower leg was developed after 8 months and 1 month later she was expired.
Aged ; Dacarbazine ; Dermis ; Drug Therapy ; Epidermis ; Female ; Heel ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Leg ; Lymph Nodes ; Melanocytes ; Melanoma* ; Ulcer

Nodular type malignant melanoma is uncommon in fingers. In previous publications, treatment, diagnosis and case reports of subungal melanoma is often, however fingertip lesion was not focused. A 64-year-old woman who had a non-healing red and dark colored nodular mass with ulceration over the finger tip in the right thumb visited our clinics. Biopsy results was malignant melanoma then we performed amputation surgery of distal phalanx. Lymph node biopsy and resection margin was negative for melanoma. Chemotherapy was administered immediately. After 5 months, pulmonary nodular lesion was found and diagnosed as metastatic malignant melanoma by the wedge resection surgery. The patient is treated for additional chemotherapy consistently and disease free for 2 years. Nodular type melanoma of the finger is uncommon and it could be presented as ulceration and amelanotic nodular mass. Therefore we recommend biopsy to diagnose correctly if there are chronic non healing lesions on the fingers.
Amputation ; Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Fingers ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Melanoma* ; Middle Aged ; Thumb* ; Ulcer

A case of thoracic epidural malignant melanoma metastasized from the eyeball is presented. The patient is a 28 year old male with the chief complaint of paraparesis. He underwent laminectomy and gross total removal of the mass Chemotherapy was thean administered postoperatively. The literature on this subject is briefly reviewed.
Adult ; Drug Therapy ; Epidural Space* ; Humans ; Laminectomy ; Male ; Melanoma* ; Orbit* ; Paraparesis

Malignant melanoma is a neoplasm of the skin and mucous membrane. Extragenital malignant melanoma that metastasizes to the ovary is seen rarely, and in only a few cases has the diagnosis been made before autopsy. The most common histologic feature that should raise the question of metastatic melanoma is the presence of numerous epitheloid cells with abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm. Despite advances in chemotherapy and immunotherapy the efficacy of treatment of advanced melanoma remains limited and the prognosis of metastatic disease remains guarded. We describe a case of malignant melanoma metastatic to the ovary and right axillae occurring one year and four months after diagnosis of cutaneous malignant melanoma on the patient's back.
Autopsy ; Axilla ; Cytoplasm ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Eosinophils ; Female ; Immunotherapy ; Melanoma* ; Mucous Membrane ; Ovary* ; Prognosis ; Skin