Psoriasis in melanoma patients: a prospective pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Melanoma is an immunogenic tumor and the presence of T-cell infiltrates within melanoma lesions may correlated with longer patient survival. Psoriasis is a chronic immune- mediated inflammatory disease, in which the role of T-cells is well established. OBJECTIVES: The aim of our prospective pilot study was to investigate the relationship between melanoma and psoriasis examining 3 groups of patients: Melanoma-group (MG), Psoriasis-group (PG) and Control-group (CG). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Every patient underwent detailed anamnestic and clinical examination. Moreover, gene expression of IL-6, IFN-γ and TNF-α was analyzed in all groups and in subjects affected by both melanoma and psoriasis (MP). RESULTS: Melanoma patients showed a lower frequency of psoriasis and positive familiar history (FH) of psoriasis respect to CG. Moreover, psoriatic patients presented fewer MN, and lower frequency of positive FH of melanoma than CG. IL-6 and IFN-γ were significantly increased in PG and reduced in MG. CONCLUSION: We propose a provocative hypothesis of a possible protective role of psoriasis for melanoma development.