Cutaneous Immune-Related Adverse Events Associated With Immunotherapy in Patients With Melanoma

Cutaneous immune-related adverse events (irCAEs) have been commonly reported as a consequence of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) for the treatment of advanced stage III and stage IV melanoma.

We sought to compare systemic irAEs in melanoma patients taking ICIs, with and without irCAEs in a retrospective cohort study of 147 patients at Moffitt Cancer Center.

38.8% of patients experienced an irCAE on adjuvant ICI therapy, and 54.4% of these patients also experienced a systemic irAE. There was no significant association between irCAEs and systemic irAEs in the adjuvant treatment group (P=0.240). Among patients who progressed on first-line ICI therapy, 28.8% of patients experienced an irCAE on second-line ICI therapy. Of these patients, 53.3% also experienced a systemic irAE. There was a significant association between irCAEs and systemic irAE in the metastatic treatment group (P<0.001). The median overall survival for patients who encountered an irCAE was 118 months, compared to 69 months for those who did not experience an irCAE (P=0.102).

Patients with stage III and stage IV melanoma who progress on first-line ICI therapy and experience an irCAE are more likely to also experience a systemic irAE.

Aflatooni S, Pinero-Crespo G, Kahlon S, et al. Cutaneous immune-related adverse events associated with immunotherapy in patients with melanoma. J Drugs Dermatol. 2025;24(5):490-493. doi:10.36849/JDD.8553.