Asia-Pacific Journal of Clinical Oncology 2016; 12: e347–e349
doi: 10.1111/ajco.12204
CASE REPORT
First reported case of interferon-alpha-induced sarcoidosis in an Asian patient with malignant melanoma Eun Kyoung JEON,1 Jihyoung HONG,1 Sook Hee HONG,1 Ji Young KANG,2 Gyeongsin PARK,3 Myeong Im AHN,4 Jun Young LEE5 and Jinhyoung KANG1 Divisions of 1Oncology and 2Pulmonology, Department of Internal Medicine, and Departments of 3Pathology, 4Radiology and 5 Dermatology, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
Abstract Anticancer agents can induce sarcoidosis. Interferon-alpha, which is used for the treatment of malignant melanoma and renal cell cancer, is one causative agent of sarcoidosis. However, there are few reports of interferon-alpha-induced sarcoidosis in patients with malignant melanoma. Clinically, it is important to consider the possibility of sarcoidosis in such patients because it could be easily regarded as a metastatic lesion due to underlying malignancy and given unnecessary treatment. Here, we report on the first case of interferon-alpha-induced sarcoidosis in an Asian melanoma patient.
INTRODUCTION
CASE REPORT
Interferon-alpha (IFN-α) is widely used as an adjuvant treatment in patients with high-risk melanoma to improve relapse-free survival. Common side effects of IFN-α are fever, fatigue, chills, depression, increased liver enzyme activity and changes in blood counts. This drug can also influence the immune system and may induce or exacerbate autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus, thyroiditis and hemolytic anemia.1 IFN-α-induced sarcoidosis is uncommon and has been reported mainly after treatment of chronic hepatitis C.2 To our knowledge, there has been no report of IFN-α-induced sarcoidosis in an Asian patient with malignant melanoma. Here, we report a case of cutaneous and pulmonary sarcoidosis induced by IFN-α treatment for malignant melanoma in a Korean patient.
A 71-year-old woman was admitted because of an evaluation of progressive enlargement of mediastinal lymph nodes (LNs) and multiple nodules on her left elbow and both knees. One year ago, the patient was diagnosed with stage IIA malignant melanoma on her right great toe. She was treated with wide excision and local flap coverage for the lesion and adjuvant IFN-α-2b therapy (10 × 106 U/m2, three times a week) for a year. At 6 months of IFN-α therapy, she presented with fever and general weakness. There was no evidence of recurrence at the primary tumor site and regional LNs, but her chest computed tomography (CT) scan showed mild enlargement (
doi: 10.1111/ajco.12204
CASE REPORT
First reported case of interferon-alpha-induced sarcoidosis in an Asian patient with malignant melanoma Eun Kyoung JEON,1 Jihyoung HONG,1 Sook Hee HONG,1 Ji Young KANG,2 Gyeongsin PARK,3 Myeong Im AHN,4 Jun Young LEE5 and Jinhyoung KANG1 Divisions of 1Oncology and 2Pulmonology, Department of Internal Medicine, and Departments of 3Pathology, 4Radiology and 5 Dermatology, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
Abstract Anticancer agents can induce sarcoidosis. Interferon-alpha, which is used for the treatment of malignant melanoma and renal cell cancer, is one causative agent of sarcoidosis. However, there are few reports of interferon-alpha-induced sarcoidosis in patients with malignant melanoma. Clinically, it is important to consider the possibility of sarcoidosis in such patients because it could be easily regarded as a metastatic lesion due to underlying malignancy and given unnecessary treatment. Here, we report on the first case of interferon-alpha-induced sarcoidosis in an Asian melanoma patient.
INTRODUCTION
CASE REPORT
Interferon-alpha (IFN-α) is widely used as an adjuvant treatment in patients with high-risk melanoma to improve relapse-free survival. Common side effects of IFN-α are fever, fatigue, chills, depression, increased liver enzyme activity and changes in blood counts. This drug can also influence the immune system and may induce or exacerbate autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus, thyroiditis and hemolytic anemia.1 IFN-α-induced sarcoidosis is uncommon and has been reported mainly after treatment of chronic hepatitis C.2 To our knowledge, there has been no report of IFN-α-induced sarcoidosis in an Asian patient with malignant melanoma. Here, we report a case of cutaneous and pulmonary sarcoidosis induced by IFN-α treatment for malignant melanoma in a Korean patient.
A 71-year-old woman was admitted because of an evaluation of progressive enlargement of mediastinal lymph nodes (LNs) and multiple nodules on her left elbow and both knees. One year ago, the patient was diagnosed with stage IIA malignant melanoma on her right great toe. She was treated with wide excision and local flap coverage for the lesion and adjuvant IFN-α-2b therapy (10 × 106 U/m2, three times a week) for a year. At 6 months of IFN-α therapy, she presented with fever and general weakness. There was no evidence of recurrence at the primary tumor site and regional LNs, but her chest computed tomography (CT) scan showed mild enlargement (
