Lichen planus associated with neoplasia: a cell-mediated immune response to tumor antigens?

Abstract

Individual case reports have suggested an occasional association of lichen planus with internal malignancy. Our purpose was to describe five patients with a neoplastic disease in whom lichen planus developed. Serologic and immunopathologic studies were conducted. No evidence of autoantibody production characteristic of paraneoplastic pemphigus was found, and antibodies reactive with basal cell keratinocytes were not detected. Lichen planus may be rarely induced by neoplasia. A cell-mediated immune reaction possibly causes this phenomenon.