Promising Treatment Strategy for Primary Malignant Melanoma of the Esophagus by Radical Esophagectomy and Nivolumab as Adjuvant Therapy: A Case Report

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INTRODUCTION: Primary malignant melanoma of the esophagus (PMME) is a rare malignant tumor of the esophagus with very poor prognosis due to high rates of recurrence and metastasis even after radical resection. Recently, however, immune checkpoint inhibitors such as anti-programmed cell death-1 antibodies have been suggested to improve the prognosis of malignant melanoma. This report describes the use of postoperative nivolumab as adjuvant therapy after surgical resection of PMME, with recurrence-free follow-up for more than 1 year.

CASE PRESENTATION: A 69-year-old man had chest discomfort and tightness in his throat. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed multiple melanosis and an elevated lesion in the middle esophagus. After histological examination, he was diagnosed as having PMME, so he underwent thoracoscopic subtotal esophagectomy, three-field lymphadenectomy, pedunculated jejunum reconstruction with super-charge and super-drainage, and feeding jejunostomy due to the past history of gastrectomy. The adjuvant therapy using nivolumab (every 2 weeks, 240 mg) for 1 year was completed with no serious side effects, and there was no recurrence for more than 1 year postoperatively.

CONCLUSIONS: Although cases of PMME treated with adjuvant nivolumab have rarely been reported, the present case suggests that this approach may represent a promising treatment option, similar to cutaneous melanoma.