Diffuse edema suggestive of cytokine release syndrome in a metastatic lung carcinoma patient treated with pembrolizumab

Immunotherapy. 2017 Mar;9(4):309-311. doi: 10.2217/imt-2016-0134.

Abstract

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are actually being indicated more commonly in the management of chemoresistant cancer patients in view of their favorable toxicity profile in comparison to cytotoxic chemotherapy. In this paper, we report, to our knowledge, the first case suggestive of cytokine release syndrome secondary to pembrolizumab in a patient with metastatic lung squamous cell carcinoma. In view of the quick approvals of ICI and the absence of sufficient knowledge of the corresponding toxicity profile, the occurrence of any clinical or biological sign or symptom in patients receiving ICI requires further investigation.

Keywords: cytokine release syndrome; immune checkpoint inhibitors; limb edema; pembrolizumab; squamous cell lung cancer.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Anemia / diagnosis*
  • Anemia / etiology
  • Anemia / prevention & control
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / adverse effects
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / therapeutic use*
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / drug therapy*
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / pathology
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions / diagnosis*
  • Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions / prevention & control
  • Edema / diagnosis*
  • Edema / etiology
  • Edema / prevention & control
  • Extremities / pathology
  • Fatigue / diagnosis*
  • Fatigue / etiology
  • Fatigue / prevention & control
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy / adverse effects
  • Immunotherapy / methods*
  • Lung Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Prednisolone / therapeutic use
  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor / immunology
  • Smoking
  • Syndrome

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Cytokines
  • PDCD1 protein, human
  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor
  • Prednisolone
  • pembrolizumab