Debilitating skin toxicity associated with pembrolizumab therapy in an 81-year-old female with malignant melanoma

Abstract

Frequently described immune-mediated adverse effects of immune therapy include dermatological complications, hepatitis, colitis, pneumonitis, and endocrinopathies. As utilization of pembrolizumab and related agents continues to expand both in the available indications as well as duration of exposure, there remains a significant potential to uncover previously undescribed adverse events. From a dermatological standpoint, 39% of patients receiving pembrolizumab therapy experience some form of skin-related drug toxicity [Naidoo et al.: Ann Oncol 2015;26: 2375-2391]. We describe a case of pembrolizumab-induced disabling autoimmune ectodermal toxicity.