Case Report: Pembrolizumab in a patient with preexisting paraneoplastic dermatomyositis and sarcomatoid urothelial carcinoma. Searching for balance

Dermatomyositis (DM) is an uncommon systemic autoimmune disorder classified as one of the idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM). DM could also represent a manifestation of an underlying neoplasm with a relative risk of cancer globally ranging from 3% to 8%. Owing to the strong connection between...

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Main Authors: Mariangela Torniai, Giuseppe Pio Martino, Calogero Gucciardino, Stefano Angelici, Renato Bisonni
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-03-01
Series:Frontiers in Immunology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1558964/full
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author Mariangela Torniai
Giuseppe Pio Martino
Calogero Gucciardino
Stefano Angelici
Renato Bisonni
author_facet Mariangela Torniai
Giuseppe Pio Martino
Calogero Gucciardino
Stefano Angelici
Renato Bisonni
author_sort Mariangela Torniai
collection DOAJ
description Dermatomyositis (DM) is an uncommon systemic autoimmune disorder classified as one of the idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM). DM could also represent a manifestation of an underlying neoplasm with a relative risk of cancer globally ranging from 3% to 8%. Owing to the strong connection between immunosurveillance and cancer progression, the management of paraneoplastic DM represents a challenging issue. To complicate matters is the advent of cancer immunotherapy, that might interfere with self-tolerance with a true risk of previous autoimmune disorders re-exacerbation. We report the case of a 50-year-old patient with advanced urothelial bladder cancer and preexisting paraneoplastic DM treated with pembrolizumab. On the basis of our experience, previous paraneoplastic DM might not necessarily represent an absolute contraindication for ICIs treatment. Furthermore, this case might suggest a role of intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG) in preventing DM reactivation, underling the importance of a multidisciplinary approach.
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institution DOAJ
issn 1664-3224
language English
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publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
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series Frontiers in Immunology
spelling doaj-art-20a467d318eb4f4b85ee12efccf401212025-08-20T02:56:02ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Immunology1664-32242025-03-011610.3389/fimmu.2025.15589641558964Case Report: Pembrolizumab in a patient with preexisting paraneoplastic dermatomyositis and sarcomatoid urothelial carcinoma. Searching for balanceMariangela Torniai0Giuseppe Pio Martino1Calogero Gucciardino2Stefano Angelici3Renato Bisonni4Unità Operativa Complessa (UOC) Oncologia, Ospedale Murri, Fermo, ItalyUnità Operativa Complessa (UOC) Medicina Interna, Ospedale Murri, Fermo, ItalyUnità Operativa Complessa (UOC) Oncologia, Ospedale Murri, Fermo, ItalyUnità Operativa Complessa (UOC) Medicina Interna, Ospedale Murri, Fermo, ItalyUnità Operativa Complessa (UOC) Oncologia, Ospedale Murri, Fermo, ItalyDermatomyositis (DM) is an uncommon systemic autoimmune disorder classified as one of the idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM). DM could also represent a manifestation of an underlying neoplasm with a relative risk of cancer globally ranging from 3% to 8%. Owing to the strong connection between immunosurveillance and cancer progression, the management of paraneoplastic DM represents a challenging issue. To complicate matters is the advent of cancer immunotherapy, that might interfere with self-tolerance with a true risk of previous autoimmune disorders re-exacerbation. We report the case of a 50-year-old patient with advanced urothelial bladder cancer and preexisting paraneoplastic DM treated with pembrolizumab. On the basis of our experience, previous paraneoplastic DM might not necessarily represent an absolute contraindication for ICIs treatment. Furthermore, this case might suggest a role of intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG) in preventing DM reactivation, underling the importance of a multidisciplinary approach.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1558964/fullimmunotherapyparaneoplastic syndromeautoimmune diseasedermatomyositisurothelial carcinomapembrolizumab
spellingShingle Mariangela Torniai
Giuseppe Pio Martino
Calogero Gucciardino
Stefano Angelici
Renato Bisonni
Case Report: Pembrolizumab in a patient with preexisting paraneoplastic dermatomyositis and sarcomatoid urothelial carcinoma. Searching for balance
Frontiers in Immunology
immunotherapy
paraneoplastic syndrome
autoimmune disease
dermatomyositis
urothelial carcinoma
pembrolizumab
title Case Report: Pembrolizumab in a patient with preexisting paraneoplastic dermatomyositis and sarcomatoid urothelial carcinoma. Searching for balance
title_full Case Report: Pembrolizumab in a patient with preexisting paraneoplastic dermatomyositis and sarcomatoid urothelial carcinoma. Searching for balance
title_fullStr Case Report: Pembrolizumab in a patient with preexisting paraneoplastic dermatomyositis and sarcomatoid urothelial carcinoma. Searching for balance
title_full_unstemmed Case Report: Pembrolizumab in a patient with preexisting paraneoplastic dermatomyositis and sarcomatoid urothelial carcinoma. Searching for balance
title_short Case Report: Pembrolizumab in a patient with preexisting paraneoplastic dermatomyositis and sarcomatoid urothelial carcinoma. Searching for balance
title_sort case report pembrolizumab in a patient with preexisting paraneoplastic dermatomyositis and sarcomatoid urothelial carcinoma searching for balance
topic immunotherapy
paraneoplastic syndrome
autoimmune disease
dermatomyositis
urothelial carcinoma
pembrolizumab
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1558964/full
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