Advanced Melanoma Management: A Case Report of Pembrolizumab Use in a Haemodialysis Patient

Patients with end-stage renal disease are a challenge for oncologists. Despite the recognised benefit in the overall survival of pembrolizumab in patients with advanced melanoma, data on its safety and efficacy in dialysis patients are scarce. We present a clinical case of an 87-year-old woman on haemodialysis with advanced melanoma treated in the first line with pembrolizumab 200 mg every three weeks. She shows no significant adverse events and a good response to treatment. Although she underwent surgical treatment for two oligoprogressions, the patient maintained treatment with pembrolizumab, now demonstrating a response duration of 20 months. The age and comorbidities in this case, coupled with the lack of robust scientific evidence on the use of immunotherapy in dialysis patients, illustrate the daily complexity of therapeutic decisions in oncology.

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Publication Details

Journal
Cureus
Published
2025-02-07
DOI
https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.78698
Primary Topic
Cancer Immunotherapy and Biomarkers
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
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article

Advanced Melanoma Management: A Case Report of Pembrolizumab Use in a Haemodialysis Patient

Carina Teixeira, Miguel G. Silva, Isabel Sousa, Maria João Ribeiro et al.
Cureus
Cancer Immunotherapy and Biomarkers
article

Advanced Melanoma Management: A Case Report of Pembrolizumab Use in a Haemodialysis Patient

Carina Teixeira, Miguel G. Silva, Isabel Sousa, Maria João Ribeiro, Rúben Costa
article en

Abstract

Patients with end-stage renal disease are a challenge for oncologists. Despite the recognised benefit in the overall survival of pembrolizumab in patients with advanced melanoma, data on its safety and efficacy in dialysis patients are scarce. We present a clinical case of an 87-year-old woman on haemodialysis with advanced melanoma treated in the first line with pembrolizumab 200 mg every three weeks. She shows no significant adverse events and a good response to treatment. Although she underwent surgical treatment for two oligoprogressions, the patient maintained treatment with pembrolizumab, now demonstrating a response duration of 20 months. The age and comorbidities in this case, coupled with the lack of robust scientific evidence on the use of immunotherapy in dialysis patients, illustrate the daily complexity of therapeutic decisions in oncology.

CureusVol. 17(2)
Hospital de São João (PT), Administração Regional de Saúde de Lisboa e Vale do Tejo (PT)
Zero hunger
Openalex Percentile: Top 97%
Cancer Immunotherapy and Biomarkers
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