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Eruptive squamous cell carcinoma in a patient treated with concomitant pembrolizumab and imiquimod
Author(s) -
Kanekura Takuro,
Arimura Akiko,
Kirishima Mari,
Tanimoto Akihide
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
the journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.9
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1346-8138
pISSN - 0385-2407
DOI - 10.1111/1346-8138.15101
Subject(s) - pembrolizumab , imiquimod , medicine , concomitant , metastasis , dermatology , skin biopsy , biopsy , cancer , pathology , immunotherapy , oncology
Pembrolizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody against programmed cell death 1, is used for various malignant neoplasms. Toll‐like receptor ( TLR ) agonists, specifically targeting the TLR 9 subfamily ( TLR 7–9), are treatment options for solid tumors and hematological malignancies. We experienced a case of eruptive squamous cell carcinoma ( SCC ) in a patient treated concomitantly with pembrolizumab and imiquimod, a TLR 7 agonist. A 75‐year‐old woman who was given a diagnosis of bladder cancer with lung metastasis received pembrolizumab for 3 months when she was referred to our department for the evaluation of skin rashes on her hands. Her skin lesions were diagnosed as well‐differentiated SCC and treated with topical imiquimod. Two months after the start of imiquimod, more than 10 reddish papules appeared on her hands. The histological diagnosis of a new plaque was the same as an earlier biopsy. We herein describe this case in detail and provide a published work review.