Published online Jun 26, 2022. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v10.i18.6110
Peer-review started: October 10, 2021
First decision: December 10, 2021
Revised: December 24, 2021
Accepted: April 30, 2022
Article in press: April 30, 2022
Published online: June 26, 2022
Processing time: 249 Days and 16.9 Hours
For advanced lung squamous cell carcinoma, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have been regarded as one of the optimal therapies. While immune-related adverse events (irAEs) are common in ICI treatment, cutaneous toxicities are among the most common irAEs. Most immune-related skin toxicity grades are low, and the prognosis is good. However, Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) is a rare but extremely severe cutaneous adverse drug reaction with high mortality.
We report a rare case of SJS induced by pembrolizumab. The case involved a 68-year-old female who was diagnosed with advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the lung. SJS appeared after one cycle of immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy. After treatment with prednisone hormone symptoms, anti-infection, gamma globulin, and antipruritic agents, the skin toxicity of the patients gradually decreased and eventually disappeared. Although the antitumor treatment was stopped due to serious adverse reactions, the tumor of the patient remained stable for nearly half a year after one cycle of immune therapy combined with chemotherapy, which also corroborates the delayed effect of immunotherapy.
We believe our report can provide some references for the treatment of SJS and the treatment of immune-related adverse reactions.
Core Tip: Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) is a rare but extremely severe cutaneous adverse drug reaction with high mortality. The case involved a 68-year-old female who was diagnosed with advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the lung. SJS syndrome appeared after one cycle of immunotherapy. After the optimal supportive treatment, skin toxicity disappeared.