Vitiligo and Prostate Cancer Correlation

Abstract

A 72-year-old male with a history of systemic hypertension, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and hyperlipidemia presents with diffuse patches of cutaneous depigmentation. A shave biopsy of different regions of depigmented skin indicated vitiligo. The patient was prescribed Opzelura (ruxolitinib) 1.5% topical cream as well as tacrolimus 0.1% topical ointment for vitiligo. He also had a history of prostate cancer. A prostate biopsy revealed three sites of prostatic adenocarcinoma with a Gleason score of 6 and a Prostate Imaging-Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) score of 2. The patient remained in active surveillance for prostate cancer without treatment, due to its low severity. A subsequent biopsy five years later revealed a decrease in prostate cancer prevalence, with cancer present in only one core and at a lower severity. The purpose of this case presentation is to discuss possible links between vitiligo and prostate cancer, as well as their shared mechanisms and pathways.

Keywords: biopsy; prostate cancer; prostatic adenocarcinoma; psa; vitamin d; vitiligo.

Figure 1. Knees and shins of the patient

Depigmentation of knees and shins, bilaterally

Figure 2. Hands of the patient

Vitiligo-associated depigmentation of the digits

Figure 3. Fontana-Masson stain of the biopsied tissue

Stain reveals incomplete loss of basilar melanin pigmentation. The area specified by an arrow (darkly stained tissue) indicates a small section containing melanin

Figure 4. Mart-1 immunostain of the biopsied tissue

Stain reveals loss of melanocytes in the basal layer. The area specified by an arrow (red stain) indicates a small section with melanocyte presence. The red stain is virtually absent from the remainder of the tissue sample