Case Report: Immune-related eruptive keratoacanthoma with fungal coinfection under PD-1 inhibitor therapy: a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge

BackgroundIt has been reported that immunotherapy with programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) inhibitors (pembrolizumab or nivolumab) can induce multiple eruptive keratoacanthomas (KAs), representing an immune-related cutaneous adverse event (ircAE).MethodsThis case report describes a 63-year-old fe...

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Main Authors: Ying-Jie Su, Zheng Wu, Yan-Li Hou, Meng-Xia Yan, Xiu-Mei Ma, Hou-Wen Lin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-08-01
Series:Frontiers in Pharmacology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1619450/full
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author Ying-Jie Su
Zheng Wu
Yan-Li Hou
Meng-Xia Yan
Meng-Xia Yan
Xiu-Mei Ma
Hou-Wen Lin
author_facet Ying-Jie Su
Zheng Wu
Yan-Li Hou
Meng-Xia Yan
Meng-Xia Yan
Xiu-Mei Ma
Hou-Wen Lin
author_sort Ying-Jie Su
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundIt has been reported that immunotherapy with programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) inhibitors (pembrolizumab or nivolumab) can induce multiple eruptive keratoacanthomas (KAs), representing an immune-related cutaneous adverse event (ircAE).MethodsThis case report describes a 63-year-old female with recurrent cervical adenocarcinoma who developed multiple eruptive KAs and a concurrent fungal infection following treatment with the PD-1 inhibitor zimberelimab. We analyzed the etiology, diagnosis, and treatment by integrating clinical manifestations, pathological examinations, previous treatment history, and a review of the literature.ResultsDespite an initial misdiagnosis as a fungal infection, multidisciplinary review identified KA as an ircAE. Topical corticosteroids led to resolution, and another PD-1 inhibitor was reintroduced without recurrence of cutaneous toxicity.ConclusionThis is the first documented case of eruptive KA linked to zimberelimab, expanding the spectrum of PD-1 inhibitor-associated ircAEs. A concurrent fungal infection obscured the diagnosis, delaying appropriate treatment and highlighting the importance of recognizing rare ircAEs and multidisciplinary collaboration.
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institution Kabale University
issn 1663-9812
language English
publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Pharmacology
spelling doaj-art-6d8c7d99dce54639864cc1f8c1a8f74b2025-08-20T04:00:48ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pharmacology1663-98122025-08-011610.3389/fphar.2025.16194501619450Case Report: Immune-related eruptive keratoacanthoma with fungal coinfection under PD-1 inhibitor therapy: a diagnostic and therapeutic challengeYing-Jie Su0Zheng Wu1Yan-Li Hou2Meng-Xia Yan3Meng-Xia Yan4Xiu-Mei Ma5Hou-Wen Lin6Department of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Affiliated Renji Hospital, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Affiliated Renji Hospital, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Affiliated Renji Hospital, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Affiliated Renji Hospital, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacy, Ningbo Hangzhou Bay Hospital, Ningbo, Zhejiang, ChinaDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Affiliated Renji Hospital, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Affiliated Renji Hospital, Shanghai, ChinaBackgroundIt has been reported that immunotherapy with programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) inhibitors (pembrolizumab or nivolumab) can induce multiple eruptive keratoacanthomas (KAs), representing an immune-related cutaneous adverse event (ircAE).MethodsThis case report describes a 63-year-old female with recurrent cervical adenocarcinoma who developed multiple eruptive KAs and a concurrent fungal infection following treatment with the PD-1 inhibitor zimberelimab. We analyzed the etiology, diagnosis, and treatment by integrating clinical manifestations, pathological examinations, previous treatment history, and a review of the literature.ResultsDespite an initial misdiagnosis as a fungal infection, multidisciplinary review identified KA as an ircAE. Topical corticosteroids led to resolution, and another PD-1 inhibitor was reintroduced without recurrence of cutaneous toxicity.ConclusionThis is the first documented case of eruptive KA linked to zimberelimab, expanding the spectrum of PD-1 inhibitor-associated ircAEs. A concurrent fungal infection obscured the diagnosis, delaying appropriate treatment and highlighting the importance of recognizing rare ircAEs and multidisciplinary collaboration.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1619450/fullimmune checkpoint inhibitorsprogrammed cell death protein 1immune-related adverse eventimmune-related cutaneous adverse eventeruptive keratoacanthomas
spellingShingle Ying-Jie Su
Zheng Wu
Yan-Li Hou
Meng-Xia Yan
Meng-Xia Yan
Xiu-Mei Ma
Hou-Wen Lin
Case Report: Immune-related eruptive keratoacanthoma with fungal coinfection under PD-1 inhibitor therapy: a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge
Frontiers in Pharmacology
immune checkpoint inhibitors
programmed cell death protein 1
immune-related adverse event
immune-related cutaneous adverse event
eruptive keratoacanthomas
title Case Report: Immune-related eruptive keratoacanthoma with fungal coinfection under PD-1 inhibitor therapy: a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge
title_full Case Report: Immune-related eruptive keratoacanthoma with fungal coinfection under PD-1 inhibitor therapy: a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge
title_fullStr Case Report: Immune-related eruptive keratoacanthoma with fungal coinfection under PD-1 inhibitor therapy: a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge
title_full_unstemmed Case Report: Immune-related eruptive keratoacanthoma with fungal coinfection under PD-1 inhibitor therapy: a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge
title_short Case Report: Immune-related eruptive keratoacanthoma with fungal coinfection under PD-1 inhibitor therapy: a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge
title_sort case report immune related eruptive keratoacanthoma with fungal coinfection under pd 1 inhibitor therapy a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge
topic immune checkpoint inhibitors
programmed cell death protein 1
immune-related adverse event
immune-related cutaneous adverse event
eruptive keratoacanthomas
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1619450/full
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