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Case Report Open Access

Preoperative pembrolizumab‑induced hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in a patient with breast cancer: A case report

  • Authors:
    • Yukino Kawamura
    • Akihiko Shimomura
    • Tomoko Taniyama
    • Hoshie Hirai
    • Kazuki Hashimoto
    • Yayoi Honda
    • Dai Kitagawa
    • Ryo Nasu
    • Hiroshi Shimazu
    • Akira Hangaishi
    • Chikako Shimizu
  • View Affiliations / Copyright

    Affiliations: Department of Breast Medical Oncology, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo 162‑8655, Japan, Department of Breast Surgery, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo 162‑8655, Japan, Department of Hematology, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo 162‑8655, Japan
    Copyright: © Kawamura et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.
  • Article Number: 136
    |
    Published online on: January 9, 2025
       https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2025.14882
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Abstract

Recently, the anti‑programmed cell death protein 1 antibody pembrolizumab, a type of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI), has been used in preoperative systemic chemotherapy for hormone receptor and human epidermal growth factor 2‑negative breast cancer, also known as triple‑negative breast cancer (TNBC). Chemotherapy with pembrolizumab has demonstrated clinical activity in terms of pathologic complete response and event‑free survival. Despite their efficacy, the current understanding of the full spectrum of side effects associated with relatively new ICIs remains incomplete. The present study describes a case of severe pembrolizumab‑induced hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in a patient with early‑stage TNBC, and the strategies used to manage the patient in light of their pathophysiology. 
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Copy and paste a formatted citation
Spandidos Publications style
Kawamura Y, Shimomura A, Taniyama T, Hirai H, Hashimoto K, Honda Y, Kitagawa D, Nasu R, Shimazu H, Hangaishi A, Hangaishi A, et al: Preoperative pembrolizumab‑induced hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in a patient with breast cancer: A case report. Oncol Lett 29: 136, 2025.
APA
Kawamura, Y., Shimomura, A., Taniyama, T., Hirai, H., Hashimoto, K., Honda, Y. ... Shimizu, C. (2025). Preoperative pembrolizumab‑induced hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in a patient with breast cancer: A case report. Oncology Letters, 29, 136. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2025.14882
MLA
Kawamura, Y., Shimomura, A., Taniyama, T., Hirai, H., Hashimoto, K., Honda, Y., Kitagawa, D., Nasu, R., Shimazu, H., Hangaishi, A., Shimizu, C."Preoperative pembrolizumab‑induced hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in a patient with breast cancer: A case report". Oncology Letters 29.3 (2025): 136.
Chicago
Kawamura, Y., Shimomura, A., Taniyama, T., Hirai, H., Hashimoto, K., Honda, Y., Kitagawa, D., Nasu, R., Shimazu, H., Hangaishi, A., Shimizu, C."Preoperative pembrolizumab‑induced hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in a patient with breast cancer: A case report". Oncology Letters 29, no. 3 (2025): 136. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2025.14882
Copy and paste a formatted citation
x
Spandidos Publications style
Kawamura Y, Shimomura A, Taniyama T, Hirai H, Hashimoto K, Honda Y, Kitagawa D, Nasu R, Shimazu H, Hangaishi A, Hangaishi A, et al: Preoperative pembrolizumab‑induced hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in a patient with breast cancer: A case report. Oncol Lett 29: 136, 2025.
APA
Kawamura, Y., Shimomura, A., Taniyama, T., Hirai, H., Hashimoto, K., Honda, Y. ... Shimizu, C. (2025). Preoperative pembrolizumab‑induced hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in a patient with breast cancer: A case report. Oncology Letters, 29, 136. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2025.14882
MLA
Kawamura, Y., Shimomura, A., Taniyama, T., Hirai, H., Hashimoto, K., Honda, Y., Kitagawa, D., Nasu, R., Shimazu, H., Hangaishi, A., Shimizu, C."Preoperative pembrolizumab‑induced hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in a patient with breast cancer: A case report". Oncology Letters 29.3 (2025): 136.
Chicago
Kawamura, Y., Shimomura, A., Taniyama, T., Hirai, H., Hashimoto, K., Honda, Y., Kitagawa, D., Nasu, R., Shimazu, H., Hangaishi, A., Shimizu, C."Preoperative pembrolizumab‑induced hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in a patient with breast cancer: A case report". Oncology Letters 29, no. 3 (2025): 136. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2025.14882
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