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Global Translational Medicine Anergy in Leishmania-associated malignancy

Chronic inflammation may be a predisposing factor for Consent for publication
the development of human neoplastic process. In addition,
risk factors for leishmaniasis (immunosuppression), such Written consent was obtained from the patient to publish
as parasite-specific anergy, may promote the development his data and images. Efforts had been made by the authors
of skin cancer. Although there is no known time to mask any identifying information and facial features of
9,16
interval between resolution of infection and malignant the patient that may appear in the paper.
8
transformation, both may be present simultaneously, even Availability of data
during active infection.
Not applicable.
4. Conclusion References

In many cases of leishmaniasis that have been satisfactorily
cured, cancers may develop in the prior old, healed 1. Sasidharan S, Saudagar P. Leishmaniasis: Where are we and
lesions, but can also occur in active leishmaniasis where are we heading? Parasitol Res. 2021;120(5):1541-1554.
lesions in immunocompetent patients as well as in doi: 10.1007/s00436-021-07139-2
immunocompromised cases. The current case underlines 2. Lopez Y, Arana B, Rizzo N, Duran E, Acosta-Serrano Á,
the role of a weakening host immune response as a result of Mendizabal-Cabrera R. A neglected among the neglected:
diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis in the development of SCC. A review of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Guatemala. Trans R
Such postulation points to and corroborates the involvement Soc Trop Med Hyg. 2023;117(9):609-616.
of anergy, a condition probably caused by parasite-induced doi: 10.1093/trstmh/trad024
suppression of the immune response, in the co-occurrence
of leishmaniasis and skin malignancy development. The 3. Bañuls AL, Bastien P, Pomares C, Arevalo J, Fisa R, Hide M.
Clinical pleiomorphism in human leishmaniases, with
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the disease is highlighted by the development of SCC. Infect. 2011;17(10):1451-1461.
Anergy, probably related to a parasite-induced suppression
of the immune response, may be a common factor doi: 10.1111/j.1469-0691.2011.03640.x
linking leishmaniasis and malignancy. Therefore, it is of 4. Pinheiro RO, Pinto EF, Benedito AB, Lopes UG, Rossi-
utmost clinical significance to consider malignancy in the Bergmann B. The T-cell anergy induced by Leishmania
differential diagnosis of rapidly growing or difficult-to-treat amazonensis antigens is related with defective antigen
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Acknowledgments doi: 10.1590/s0001-37652004000300006
None. 5. Saidi N, Blaizot R, Prévot G, et al. Clinical and immunological
spectra of human cutaneous leishmaniasis in North Africa
Funding and French Guiana. Front Immunol. 2023;14:1134020.
None. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1134020
6. Rashidi S, Fernández-Rubio C, Manzano-Román R, et al.
Conflict of interest Potential therapeutic targets shared between leishmaniasis
The authors declare that they have no competing interest. and cancer. Parasitology. 2021;148(6):655-671.
doi: 10.1017/S0031182021000160
Author contributions
7. Wysong A. Squamous-cell carcinoma of the skin. N Engl J
Conceptualization: Andrés Tirado-Sánchez, Alexandro Med. 2023;388:2262-2273.
Bonifaz doi: 10.1056/NEJMra2206348
Investigation: Andrés Tirado-Sánchez, Sebastián
Hernández-Gómez 8. Carrillo-Larco RM, Acevedo-Rodriguez JG, Altez-
Writing – original draft: Andrés Tirado-Sánchez Fernandez C, Ortiz-Acha K, Ugarte-Gil C. Is there an
association between cutaneous leishmaniasis and skin
Writing – review & editing: Andrés Tirado-Sánchez, cancer? A systematic review. Wellcome Open Res. 2019;4:110.
Alexandro Bonifaz, Sebastián Hernández-Gómez
Ethics approval and consent to participate doi: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.15367.1
9. Morsy TA. Cutaneous leishmaniasis predisposing to human
Written consent was obtained from the patient to skin cancer: Forty years local and regional studies. J Egypt
participate in the study. Soc Parasitol. 2013;43(3):629-648.

Volume 3 Issue 1 (2024) 4 https://doi.org/10.36922/gtm.2281