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Immunological associations of the halo naevus with cutaneous malignant melanoma *
Author(s) -
COPEMAN P.W.M.,
LEWIS M.G.,
PHILLIPS T.M.,
ELLIOTT P.G.
Publication year - 1973
Publication title -
british journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.304
H-Index - 179
eISSN - 1365-2133
pISSN - 0007-0963
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2133.1973.tb07517.x
Subject(s) - melanoma , vitiligo , medicine , dermatology , pathology , halo , nevus , antibody , immunology , cancer research , physics , quantum mechanics , galaxy
SUMMARY Antibodies against the cytoplasm of malignant melanoma cells have been found formerly to be circulating in our patients with primary malignant melanoma before metastases had developed. We have found now this same antibody in fifteen patients with resolving halo naevi. It disappears once resolution of the naevus is complete or after a solitary active halo naevus has been excised. However, cytoplasmic antibody has not been detected in the serum of any other patients with cutaneous pigmentary disorders: including fifty‐six with various pigmented tumours or naevi, many of them referred to us as suspected malignant melanoma; forty‐seven with vitiligo unassociated with halo naevi; and six with benign juvenile melanoma. We postulate that:1 Halo naevus represents an accelerated and successful rejection phase of a pigmented mole developing malignant change. 2 There are at least two aetiological types of vitiligo, the common variety and another one associated specifically with halo naevus, perhaps initiated by the same immunological stimulus or its sequelae. 3 Juvenile (benign) melanoma is not related immunologically to malignant melanoma.