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Life sciences · Journal article
Lumen Et Virtus · September 8, 2026
Early or partial results. Treat as a signal, not a conclusion.
This is a single case report of toxic epidermal necrolysis occurring in a patient with metastatic tongue cancer treated with pembrolizumab. The report documents the occurrence and clinical course of a known but rare immune-related adverse event, and calls for improved monitoring and management strategies, but provides no incidence data, risk factors, or mechanistic insight.
Case report. One patient, aged 48, with metastatic tongue cancer treated with pembrolizumab.. Intervention: Pembrolizumab (PD-1 inhibitor) for metastatic tongue cancer; treatment for TEN included systemic corticosteroids and intravenous immunoglobulin.. n = 1.
48-year-old patient with metastatic tongue cancer developed TEN after pembrolizumab administration TEN manifestation typically occurs within two to six weeks after starting pembrolizumab Patient received systemic corticosteroids and intravenous immunoglobulin as treatment
Safety was not reported in the material analysed. Check the source before drawing any conclusion about harm.
Clinicians should maintain high vigilance for severe dermatologic reactions during pembrolizumab therapy, particularly early in treatment, and have a multidisciplinary team ready for rapid assessment and management. This case reinforces the need for patient counselling on warning signs and mechanisms for urgent evaluation.
A single case report describing TEN onset with pembrolizumab; establishes occurrence but lacks comparative data, denominators, or mechanistic evidence to support stronger claims.
As stated by the source record.
Quoted from the source exactly as published.
Clinicians should maintain high vigilance for severe dermatologic reactions during pembrolizumab therapy, particularly early in treatment, and have a multidisciplinary team ready for rapid assessment and management. This case reinforces the need for patient counselling on warning signs and mechanisms for urgent evaluation.
Graded across the dimensions that decide whether you should act, each from what the source actually supports. There is no single score, and where a dimension was not assessed it says so.
Pembrolizumab, a PD-1 inhibitor, has multiple approved indications, especially in oncology, due to its demonstrated efficacy across several cancer types. It is used to treat lung cancer, melanoma, urothelial carcinoma, head and neck cancer, squamous and basal cell carcinomas of the skin, classical Hodgkin lymphoma, esophageal and gastroesophageal junction cancers, gastric, renal cell, hepatocellular, and endometrial cancers, as well as MSI-H or dMMR colorectal and other solid tumors, and cervical cancer. It is a first-line therapy for advanced malignancies such as melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The drug works by blocking the PD-1 receptor on T cells, restoring antitumor immune activity, particularly in patients with high PD-L1 expression. Despite its clinical benefits, Pembrolizumab is associated with serious immune-related adverse events, including Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) and Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS). These are rare but life-threatening dermatologic reactions involving widespread skin necrosis and detachment. TEN typically manifests within two to six weeks after starting treatment and may necessitate immediate discontinuation of immunotherapy. A case is presented involving a 48-year-old patient with metastatic tongue cancer who developed TEN after Pembrolizumab administration. Treatment included systemic corticosteroids and intravenous immunoglobulin. Unfortunately, the patient died due to cancer progression. This case highlights the importance of close monitoring and a multidisciplinary approach when using immune checkpoint inhibitors. Further studies are needed to refine management strategies, improve early recognition of adverse events, and better understand the complex immune mechanisms triggered by Pembrolizumab in oncology patients.
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