Case Report and Review of 7 Similar Cases in the Literature: Cutaneous Sarcoidosis as Side Effect of Pembrolizumab Plus Chemotherapy in Stage IV Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Lung

J Immunother. 2021 Feb-Mar;44(2):90-94. doi: 10.1097/CJI.0000000000000351.

Abstract

Advanced squamous cell lung cancer used to have universally dismal long-term outcomes before the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Due to the expanding role of ICIs, there has been an increasing number of long-term survivors in this relatively large group of patients. ICIs such as anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 and anti-programmed cell death protein 1/programmed death-ligand 1 monoclonal antibodies increase the T-cell activation and limit the tumor capacity to escape the adaptive immune response. However, efficacy comes along with unique immune-related adverse events. We present an unusual case of cutaneous sarcoidosis in a 63-year-old white female who was diagnosed with stage IV squamous cell lung cancer developed skin manifestations 3 months after started chemo/pembrolizumab. Sarcoidosis was confirmed by skin punch biopsy and resolved after a short course of systemic glucocorticoid while maintained on pembrolizumab with lower frequency. These sarcoid-like lesions associated with the blockage of programmed death receptor-1 have been increasingly described in many different malignancies especially in melanoma. There is a need for further investigation to the characterization of the population prone to this immune-related adverse events.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / administration & dosage
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / adverse effects*
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
  • Biopsy
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / complications*
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / diagnosis
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / drug therapy
  • Disease Management
  • Disease Susceptibility
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors / administration & dosage
  • Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors / adverse effects
  • Immune Checkpoint Proteins
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Lung Neoplasms / complications*
  • Lung Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Lung Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Sarcoidosis / diagnosis*
  • Sarcoidosis / etiology*
  • Sarcoidosis / therapy
  • Skin Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Skin Diseases / etiology*
  • Skin Diseases / therapy
  • Symptom Assessment
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors
  • Immune Checkpoint Proteins
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • pembrolizumab