Radiation Induced Abscopal Effect in a Patient With Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma on Pembrolizumab.

ABSTRACT: Abscopal effect is a rare phenomenon in which treatment benefit from radiotherapy (RT) is seen outside the target field due to activation of the immune system inducing an anti-tumor effect. This phenomenon has been reported in cancer patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI). Here we report a case of presumed abscopal effect in malignant mesothelioma. The patient received second-line single-agent pembrolizumab however had disease progression after four cycles leading to palliative RT (20 Gray) to the right mainstem bronchus. Follow-up radiographic imaging confirmed benefit and pembrolizumab was continued. Follow-up computed tomography (CT) five months after RT, showed marked radiographic improvement of all measurable diseases with improvement in right-sided aerated lung volume.

SUBMITTER: Rittberg R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8920754 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature