Vitiligo-like rash in a patient with lung cancer caused by sintilimab: A case report

BACKGROUND: This article discusses a case involving a 63-year-old man with non-small cell lung cancer, who was treated with a combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy. The patient was treated with five cycles of chemotherapy (pemetrexed and carboplatin) combined with sintilimab, a programmed death 1 inhibitor. CASE SUMMARY: After the fifth cycle of treatment, the patient developed skin itching and a vitiligo-like rash, which are known side effects of immunotherapy. Despite dermatological consultation and treatment with topical corticosteroids, the rash worsened while the itching subsided. The patient continued with the treatment, and after 15 cycles, the tumor showed a response with a reduction in size. The vitiligo-like rash increased, but the antitumor treatment remained effective. CONCLUSION: The case highlights the use of immunotherapy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer and the potential side effect of vitiligo-like rash. The patient's tumor responded well to the treatment, and despite the skin reaction, the treatment was not discontinued due to its effectiveness. The article suggests that further studies are needed to understand the mechanism behind vitiligo in patients with lung cancer receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors and whether the development of vitiligo-like rash after immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy is associated with improved prognosis. The case also underscores the importance of managing immune-related adverse events in the context of effective antitumor treatment.