Open AccessA case of pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma with preexisting interstitial pneumonia successfully treated with pembrolizumab
Author(s) -
Sako Masahiro,
Nokihara Hiroshi,
Kondo Kensuke,
Mitsuhashi Atsushi,
Ozaki Ryohiko,
Yabuki Yohei,
Abe Akane,
Yoneda Hiroto,
Ogino Hirokazu,
Otsuka Kenji,
Uehara Hisanori,
Nishioka Yasuhiko
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
thoracic cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.823
H-Index - 28
eISSN - 1759-7714
pISSN - 1759-7706
DOI - 10.1111/1759-7714.14243
Subject(s) - medicine , pembrolizumab , lung cancer , pneumonitis , carcinoma , chemotherapy , pneumonia , radiation therapy , oncology , lung , cancer , immunotherapy
Pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma is often refractory to chemotherapy and follows an aggressive clinical course. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized the treatment of advanced lung cancer, and a few cases with pleomorphic carcinoma have been reported to show tumor shrinkage after therapy with ICIs. When treating patients with ICIs, patient selection is essential, and monitoring and management of immune‐related adverse events, including pneumonitis, are needed. We herein report a case of pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma with preexisting interstitial pneumonia treated with pembrolizumab, antiprogrammed cell death 1 antibody. Our report highlights important considerations necessary when treating advanced pleomorphic carcinoma patients complicated with interstitial pneumonia. We also review the literature regarding the use of ICIs in such patients.