Radiation Recall in a Patient with Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma: Case Report and a Literature Review

Radiation Recall Dermatitis in Patients Treated With Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: A Case Report and Literature Review

Radiation recall dermatitis (RRD) is defined as a skin reaction in the previously irradiated area triggered by a systemic agent's administration. The use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) alone and in combination with other treatments is increasing in many cancers. ICI-associated radiation recall reactions such as dermatitis, pneumonia, and myelitis have been reported so far. We report a case of nivolumab (anti-programmed cell death protein-1 antibody) induced RRD in a patient with head and neck cancer and review the publications reporting RRD associated with other ICI in the literature. The patient was diagnosed with neck metastasis of unknown primary origin and underwent surgery followed by adjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT). During the follow-up, radiotherapy (RT) was performed to the left parotid region, right neck level 1b, and the left neck skin due to recurrence. After three months of the last RT session, she was started on nivolumab due to the metastatic disease. Four weeks later, she was represented with erythematous squamous plaque-like lesions starting from the left temporomandibular region and spreading to the anterior chest, which corresponded to the previously irradiated area. A biopsy was performed with the differential diagnosis of skin metastases which revealed subacute spongiotic dermatitis. The lesions completely regressed in two weeks with the use of topical steroids and antihistamine tablets. Nivolumab treatment was not interrupted, and no reaction was observed during or after the next cycle. Although RRD is rarely encountered clinically, it is a diagnosis that should be kept in mind while continuing treatment with systemic agents in patients with a history of RT. With the widespread use of ICI, RRD associated with these treatments could be better defined and appropriately managed.

Therapeutic Apheresis, Circulating PLD, and Mucocutaneous Toxicity: Our Clinical Experience through Four Years

Cancer treatment has been greatly improved by the combined use of targeted therapies and novel biotechnological methods. Regarding the former, pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) has a preferential accumulation within cancer tumors, thus having lower toxicity on healthy cells. PLD has been implemented in the targeted treatment of sarcoma, ovarian, breast, and lung cancer. In comparison with conventional doxorubicin, PLD has lower cardiotoxicity and hematotoxicity; however, PLD can induce mucositis and palmo-plantar erythrodysesthesia (PPE, hand-foot syndrome), which limits its use. Therapeutical apheresis is a clinically proven solution against early PLD toxicity without hindering the efficacy of the treatment. The present review summarizes the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of PLD and the beneficial effects of extracorporeal apheresis on the incidence of PPE during chemoradiotherapy in cancer patients.

Dermatologic toxicities associated with radiation therapy in women with breast cancer

Breast-conserving surgery with adjuvant radiation therapy has become the standard of care for women with early stage breast cancer, and as a result, a large number of patients are affected by the cutaneous sequelae of radiation therapy. These dermatologic toxicities may present during treatment or years later and can significantly impact patients’ quality of life. In this review, we discuss the clinical presentation, prevention, and management of radiation-induced cutaneous toxicities in women with breast cancer, including radiation dermatitis, radiation recall, radiation-induced morphea, radiation-induced fibrosis, and cutaneous malignancies in irradiated skin.