IL-17A inhibitors in patients with chronic plaque psoriasis and history of malignancy: A case series with systematic literature review

Dermatol Ther. 2021 Mar;34(2):e14889. doi: 10.1111/dth.14889. Epub 2021 Feb 25.

Abstract

The treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in patients with history of malignancy is challenging. To review the studies reporting the experience with IL-17A inhibitors in patients with psoriasis and history of malignancy; secondly, to investigate cancer recurrence in a series of patients with a prior malignancy and plaque psoriasis treated with IL-17A inhibitors. A systematic literature review and an observational retrospective analysis of patients with history of malignancy and plaque psoriasis treated with IL-17A inhibitors was performed. About 5 original articles out of 601 were retrieved, reporting a total of 10 patients with a median age of 59 years, interquartile range (IQR) 50-63. Seven patients were treated with secukinumab, one with ixekizumab and two with both sequentially. Although the stage ranged from in situ to IV stage, most of the cases were early-stage neoplasm. The IL-17A inhibitor was initiated after a median of 10 months, interquartile range (IQR) 5-30 (range 0-144) from the diagnosis of malignancy. In addition, a series of 12 patients with history of malignancy were identified from the University Hospital of Verona, including 9 cases with cancer in clinical remission and 3 with advanced disease at time of initiating IL-17 inhibitor. No malignancy recurrence was reported within a median of 12 (IQR 6-23) and 46 (IQR 36-48) months follow up in case series from literature and our experience, respectively. Data on use of IL-17A inhibitors in patients with chronic plaque psoriasis and history of malignancy are limited. Registries and proactive pharmacovigilance activities are needed to guide clinical practice.

Keywords: IL-17A inhibitors; brodalumab; cancer; ixekizumab; malignancy; psoriasis; secukinumab.

Publication types

  • Systematic Review

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Interleukin-17
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasms* / diagnosis
  • Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Psoriasis* / diagnosis
  • Psoriasis* / drug therapy
  • Retrospective Studies

Substances

  • Interleukin-17