Autologous tumor-specific immunotherapy for recurrent malignant melanoma of the nasal cavity

Abstract

Malignant melanoma usually occurs in tissues containing large numbers of melanocytes, such as the skin, mucosa and eye, and is one of the most highly malignant tumors known. No satisfactory treatment results have ever been reported. We report here an effective course of immunotherapy consisting of the local injection and intra-venous administration of autologous tumor-cell-stimulated cytotoxic T lymphocytes in a patient with recurrent malignant melanoma. The patient was a 45-year-old woman. She had been diagnosed as having malignant melanoma in 1996 and under went radio-chemotherapy at our hospital. Seven years later, recurrences were recognized in bilateral nasal cavities. Following systematic chemotherapy, 23 local injections of cytotoxic T lymphocytes were performed. Mediastinal lymphonode metastasis was recognized in March, 2004, so 15 additional intravenous administrations of cytotoxic T lymphocytes were performed. At present, no obvious regrowth has been recognized. Immunotherapy using cytotoxic T lymphocytes may be a useful strategy for controlling recurrent malignant melanoma.