PD-L1 expression in keratinocyte and infiltration of CD4 + T lymphocyte can predict a severe type of erythema multiforme major induced by the anti-PD-1 antibody, pembrolizumab

• Published in: International cancer conference journal Vol. 13; no. 3; pp. 268 - 274
• Main Authors: Kadoi, Ryohei, Yoshida, Taichi, Noto, Mai, Toyoshima, Aya, Fujii, Sino, Fukuda, Koji, Shimazu, Kazuhiro, Taguchi, Daiki, Shinozaki, Hanae, Kodama, Naoki, Kono, Michihiro, Nanjyo, Hiroshi, Shibata, Hiroyuki
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Singapore Springer Nature Singapore 01-07-2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Abdomen; Antibodies; Anus; Biopsy; Cancer therapies; Case Report - Complication; CD4 antigen; Dermatitis; Erythema; Erythema multiforme; Keratinocytes; Lymphatic system; Lymphocytes T; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Metastases; Metastasis; Methylprednisolone; Oncology; PD-1 protein; PD-L1 protein; Pembrolizumab; Prednisolone; Skin diseases; Skin lesions; Steroids; Surgical Oncology; Tomography; Toxicity; Viral infections; PD-L1 expression; Erythema multiforme major; Anti-PD-1 antibody; CD8; T cell; Severe cutaneous adverse reaction; CD8+ T cell
• ISSN: 2192-3183; 2192-3183
• DOI: 10.1007/s13691-024-00676-4

Skin toxicity is the most common adverse event of treatment with immune check point inhibitors. Among them, erythema multiforme is a rare occurrence with a frequency of 4%, with most of the cases developing grade 1/2 disease. We experienced high grade erythema multiforme major developing with pembrolizumab treatment for anal canal cancer with extensive skin metastases. Steroid ointment was ineffective, and the skin lesions with blisters expanded to > 45% of the body surface area. The patient was at risk for symptom aggravation, and a pulse therapy with methylprednisolone and increasing the dose of oral prednisolone (1 mg/kg) were started. The skin lesions improved in 1.8 months. Unless urgent and appropriate treatments such as high dose steroid administration were conducted, the skin toxicities could not be controlled. The presence of CD4
+
T cells and PD-L1
+
keratinocytes in the skin biopsy might be a predictive marker of erythema multiforme major resistant to standard steroid treatment.