Onkologie 2020: 14(Suppl.E): 122-126 | DOI: 10.36290/xon.2020.070

Autoimmune and non-autoimmune related complications of successful lung cancer treatment with pembrolizumab

Juraj Kultan

Klinika plicních nemocí a tuberkulózy, FN Olomouc

For several years, immunotherapy has been a well-established systemic treatment modality for metastatic or locally advanced stages of non-small cell lung cancer. Along with treatment benefits, there occurs an increased risk of adverse events (AEs), both those specifically associated with interference with the individual's immune environment, i. e. immune-related adverse events (irAEs), and those with no underlying autoimmune component which result from the general condition of the patient and/or their risk factors, such as age, comorbidities, comedications, nutritional, epidemiological and hygienic situation, or patient compliance. Recently, the role of microbiome and individual genetic predispositions has been discussed in the case of immune related and unrelated AEs. We report a case of a patient treated effectively with pembrolizumab in whom both types of adverse events developed. Following their management, it was possible to resume treatment which has continued until the present day.

Keywords: non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), pembrolizumab, adverse events, Clostridium difficile infection.

Published: September 25, 2020  Show citation