Publikation

Anti-PD-1 Therapy Leads to Near-Complete Remission in a Patient with Metastatic Basal Cell Carcinoma

Wissenschaftlicher Artikel/Review - 03.05.2018

Bereiche
PubMed
DOI

Zitation
Fischer S, Ali O, Jochum W, Kluckert J, Flatz L, Siano M. Anti-PD-1 Therapy Leads to Near-Complete Remission in a Patient with Metastatic Basal Cell Carcinoma. Oncol Res Treat 2018; 41:391-394.
Art
Wissenschaftlicher Artikel/Review (Englisch)
Zeitschrift
Oncol Res Treat 2018; 41
Veröffentlichungsdatum
03.05.2018
eISSN (Online)
2296-5262
Seiten
391-394
Kurzbeschreibung/Zielsetzung

BACKGROUND
Metastatic basal cell carcinoma is rare and the prognosis is poor, with a lack of established treatment options for patients progressing on or after treatment with inhibitors of the hedgehog signaling pathway.

CASE REPORT
A man with pulmonary metastases of a basal cell carcinoma progressing after treatment with sonidegib and vismodegib was started on treatment with the anti-PD-1 antibody pembrolizumab. Upon treatment, rapid clinical improvement occurred, and after 5 cycles, the computed tomography scan showed near-complete remission of all tumor lesions. The tumor cells showed the absence of PD-L1 expression.

DISCUSSION
We report the first case of a patient with metastatic basal cell carcinoma experiencing an exceptional response to treatment with pembrolizumab in the absence of PD-L1 expression on the tumor cells. Immune checkpoint inhibition seems a promising treatment strategy for metastatic basal cell carcinoma. Our case suggests that the lack of PD-L1 expression does not rule out potential benefit from checkpoint inhibitor treatment.