Malignant melanoma treated with pembrolizumab during pregnancy: A case report and review of the literature

Anami,Yuki; Minami,Sawako; Kumegawa,Aya; Matsukawa,Hitomi; Nishioka,Kaho; Noguchi,Tomoko; Iwahashi,Naoyuki; Mizoguchi,Mika; Nanjo,Sakiko; Ota,Nami; Mabuchi,Yasushi; Yagi,Shigetaka; Yamamoto,Yuki; Ino,Kazuhiko

doi:10.3892/mco.2021.2404

November-2021 Volume 15 Issue 5

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November-2021 Volume 15 Issue 5

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Case Report Open Access

Malignant melanoma treated with pembrolizumab during pregnancy: A case report and review of the literature

Authors:
- Yuki Anami
- Sawako Minami
- Aya Kumegawa
- Hitomi Matsukawa
- Kaho Nishioka
- Tomoko Noguchi
- Naoyuki Iwahashi
- Mika Mizoguchi
- Sakiko Nanjo
- Nami Ota
- Yasushi Mabuchi
- Shigetaka Yagi
- Yuki Yamamoto
- Kazuhiko Ino
View Affiliations / Copyright

Affiliations: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama 641‑0012, Japan, Department of Dermatology, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama 641‑0012, Japan

Copyright: © Anami et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.
Article Number: 242
|
Published online on: September 24, 2021

https://doi.org/10.3892/mco.2021.2404
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Abstract

There have been very few reports on the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors for malignant tumors during pregnancy. Herein, the current study reports a case of a patient diagnosed with advanced malignant melanoma who was treated with pembrolizumab during pregnancy. A 40‑year‑old primigravida underwent noninvasive prenatal testing at 10 weeks of gestation, and the result was inconclusive, suggesting the possibility of maternal malignancy. A biopsy of the gluteal mass led to a diagnosis of malignant melanoma, and computed tomography revealed extensive metastases in her lungs and lymph nodes. She had a strong desire to proceed with pregnancy. In consideration of fetal growth and maturation, monotherapy was administered with pembrolizumab from 21 weeks of gestation, aiming for 28 weeks of gestation. The fetus grew well without maternal complications. At 28 weeks of pregnancy, the patient gave birth to a healthy boy by cesarean section. There was no evidence of metastasis in the placenta. The patient received nivolumab‑ipilimumab combination therapy from postpartum day 13, followed by nivolumab monotherapy, and has been alive with controlled disease for 20 months.

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Journals

International Journal of Molecular Medicine

International Journal of Oncology

Molecular Medicine Reports

Oncology Reports

Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine

Oncology Letters

Biomedical Reports

Molecular and Clinical Oncology

World Academy of Sciences Journal

International Journal of Functional Nutrition

International Journal of Epigenetics

Medicine International

Malignant melanoma treated with pembrolizumab during pregnancy: A case report and review of the literature

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