A case of late and lethal Trousseau's syndrome induced by pembrolizumab in lung adenocarcinoma

Immunotherapy. 2023 Feb;15(2):71-75. doi: 10.2217/imt-2022-0018. Epub 2023 Jan 11.

Abstract

Trousseau's syndrome is a relatively rare reported event in immunotherapy-related clinical trials, mostly occurring in the early period of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy. Here, we report an unusual case of late and lethal Trousseau's syndrome during pembrolizumab maintenance therapy in a lung adenocarcinoma harboring tumor protein p53 (TP53) mutation. The patient has experienced severe coagulation abnormalities manifesting as cerebral infarction, partial infarction of both kidneys and spleen after 23 cycles of pembrolizumab use and was resistant to anticoagulants. The late occurrence of coagulation abnormalities in this case reveals a possible correlation between TP53 mutations and Trousseau's syndrome when patients are treated with ICIs.

Keywords: TP53 mutation; Trousseau's syndrome; immunotherapy; lung adenocarcinoma; pembrolizumab.

Plain language summary

In clinical practice, symptoms associated with abnormal coagulation or fibrinolytic function in malignant tumors are known as Trousseau's syndrome. Its main clinical features include cerebral infarction, myocardial infarction, peripheral arterial embolism, etc. Trousseau's syndrome is a relatively rare reported event in immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs)-related clinical studies, mostly occurring in the early period of ICI therapy. Here, we report an unusual case of late and lethal Trousseau's syndrome during pembrolizumab, one of the ICI agents, maintenance therapy in a lung adenocarcinoma harboring tumor protein p53 (TP53) mutation. This patient has experienced severe coagulation abnormalities manifesting as cerebral infarction, partial infarction of both kidneys and spleen after 23 cycles of pembrolizumab use and was resistant to anticoagulants. The late occurrence of coagulation abnormalities in this case reveals a possible correlation between TP53 mutations and Trousseau's syndrome when patients are treated with ICIs.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma of Lung* / drug therapy
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / adverse effects
  • Anticoagulants / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Thrombocytopenia / chemically induced

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Anticoagulants
  • pembrolizumab