Unsuccessful rechallenge with pemetrexed after a previous radiation recall dermatitis

Radiation recall dermatitis is characterized by an inflammatory reaction within a previously irradiated volume after administration of a drug. Antineoplastic drugs have mainly been involved in radiation recall reactions. This phenomenon is well known but poorly understood. Many hypotheses as stem-cell depletion in the radiotherapy field, heritable mutations within surviving stem cells, local vascular changes as well as a drug hypersensitivity reaction have been proposed to explain these reactions. In this report, we describe a non-small cell lung cancer patient treated with a carboplatin plus gemcitabine combination chemotherapy as first line followed by pemetrexed as second line therapy. Twenty-five years ago, she completed radiation therapy for breast cancer. Three days after the first cycle of pemetrexed, she presented with a radiation recall dermatitis. As EGFR-staining was negative, we rechallenged the patient with pemetrexed. Unfortunately, although less intense, we faced a recurrence of the skin reaction and pemetrexed was no longer continued.