Work

Life-Threatening Steroid-Refractory Colitis Following One Cycle of Neoadjuvant Immunotherapy and Chemotherapy for Early Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype with a poor prognosis. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy is the standard of care for stage 2-3 breast cancer. This case study describes the clinical history of one patient who experienced profound immune-related adverse events, specifically severe colitis, hepatitis and keratitis following one cycle of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and immunotherapy. The patient was hospitalised and then transferred to a tertiary cancer centre. She needed intensive treatment to treat the colitis, total parenteral nutrition (TPN), three different immunosuppressant drugs, antibiotics, antivirals, and supportive treatment. Breast surgery was performed whilst she was an inpatient, and she did not receive further systemic treatment. In order to avoid significant treatment-related morbidity, better biomarkers predicting immunotherapy toxicity and response are needed to help decide who will benefit from upfront surgery vs. neoadjuvant chemotherapy with immunotherapy.

Source: Cureus

DOI: 10.7759/cureus.95960

Authors: Shahira Butt, Alice Rendall, Samantha Nimalasena, Uzma S Asghar

Institutions: Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Royal Marsden Hospital, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

Language: English

Topic: Cancer Immunotherapy and Biomarkers

Subfield: Oncology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: diamond

OpenAlex ID: W4415775816