Activated pulmonary tuberculosis in a patient with melanoma during PD-1 inhibition: a case report

PD-1 checkpoint inhibitors have shown a robust tumor response in the treatment of various cancers. Pembrolizumab is an anti-PD-1 checkpoint antibody approved for the treatment of unresectable or metastatic melanoma in more than 40 countries. Although autoimmune pneumonitis is considered a common immune-related adverse event of PD-1 inhibitors, only limited studies have assessed the development of opportunistic infections such as pulmonary tuberculosis (TB).

A patient with metastatic melanoma whose pulmonary TB was activated after administration of pembrolizumab for melanoma is reported. Anti-TB drugs were administered, followed by pembrolizumab (2 mg/kg, repeated every 28 days), which successfully cured the TB and achieved complete response for melanoma.

Activated pulmonary TB was observed during the administration of pembrolizumab. It was safe and effective in the current patient to combine anti-TB drugs and PD-1 inhibitors. More importantly, screening pulmonary TB before administration of PD-1 inhibitors is recommended.