Enfortumab vedotin is a Nectin-4 directed antibody-drug conjugate approved in metastatic urothelial carcinoma following progression on a platinum-containing chemotherapy and immune checkpoint blockade. On-target dermatologic toxicity may occur from Nectin-4 expression in the skin. We highlight a case of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome/Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis following enfortumab infusions that was ultimately fatal. The second case describes an erythema multiforme-like rash with interface dermatitis related to enfortumab. Dermatologic findings, immunohistochemistry studies, and immune profiling are detailed. These cases demonstrate the potentially catastrophic outcomes in some patients treated with enfortumab. Patients must be monitored for cutaneous toxicities with early involvement of dermatology and dermatopathology.
Background: Advances in molecular biology and genetics have contributed to breakthrough treatments directed at specific pathways associated with the development of cancer. Small-molecule inhibitors (Nibs) aimed at a variety of cellular pathways have been efficacious; however, they are associated with significant dermatologic toxicities. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive review of dermatologic toxicities associated with Nibs categorized into the following five groups: (a) mitogen-activated protein kinase; (b) growth factor/multi-tyrosine kinase; (c) cell division/DNA repair; (d) signaling associated with myeloproliferative neoplasms; and (e) other signaling pathways. Prospective phase I, II, or III clinical trials, retrospective literature reviews, systematic reviews/meta-analyses, and case reviews/reports were included for analysis.Results: Dermatologic toxicities reviewed were associated with every class of Nibs and ranged from mild to severe or life-threatening adverse skin reactions.Inflammatory reactions manifesting as maculopapular, papulopustular/acneiform, and eczematous lesions were frequent types of dermatologic toxicities seen with Nibs.Squamous cell carcinoma with keratoacanthoma-like features was associated with a subset of Nibs. Substantial overlap in dermatologic toxicities was found between Nibs.Conclusions: Dermatologic toxicities from Nibs are diverse and may overlap between classes of Nibs. Recognition of the various types of toxicities from Nibs is critical for patient care in the era of "oncodermatology/dermatopathology."
Breakthrough targeted therapies have produced significant improvements in survival for cancer patients, but have a propensity to cause cutaneous immune‐related adverse events (irAEs). Psoriasiform irAEs, representing about 4% of dermatologic toxicities associated with immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy, are usually mild, occur in older patients and present as an exacerbation of existing psoriasis after several doses of ICI therapy. We report a case of a 58‐year‐old woman with metastatic esophageal adenocarcinoma and no prior history of psoriasis who developed a pustular psoriasiform irAE, beginning 3 days after initiation of nivolumab and progressing to confluent erythroderma with pustules over 2 weeks despite topical steroid use. She had concurrent acrodermatitis enteropathica, clinically diagnosed and confirmed with a low serum zinc level, that improved with supplementation. Her psoriasiform irAE was refractory to systemic steroids and acitretin, prompting discontinuation of nivolumab and treatment with ustekinumab and concomitant slow taper of acitretin and prednisone. Pustular psoriasiform irAE is a rare but severe dermatologic toxicity resulting from ICI therapy. Given the diverse morphologic types of cutaneous irAEs that can occur during ICI therapy, a clinical and histopathologic examination of dermatologic toxicities is critical to identify patients who may benefit from biologic therapy.
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