Case report: Low-dose radiation reverses pembrolizumab resistance in melanoma
Immunotherapy has been the mainstay of the initial systemic treatment for metastatic melanoma regardless of the tumor’s genetic mutation status (Atkins et al., 2022). It is known to offer long-term overall and treatment-free survival benefits, also with generally tolerable side effect profiles. Howe...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Oncology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2025.1483117/full |
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| author | Ka Hey Agnes Fong Isaac Ho Tsz Him So |
| author_facet | Ka Hey Agnes Fong Isaac Ho Tsz Him So |
| author_sort | Ka Hey Agnes Fong |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Immunotherapy has been the mainstay of the initial systemic treatment for metastatic melanoma regardless of the tumor’s genetic mutation status (Atkins et al., 2022). It is known to offer long-term overall and treatment-free survival benefits, also with generally tolerable side effect profiles. However, upon disease progression on first- and second-line immunotherapy, further systemic treatment options are limited especially for cases without actionable molecular alterations. With emerging evidence suggesting that radiotherapy can enhance the efficacy of immunotherapy via various mechanisms, together with its potential abscopal effect, the possibility of overcoming immunotherapy resistance with radiotherapy is theoretically sound. We report a case of metastatic melanoma which demonstrated a reversal of immunotherapy resistance after the addition of low-dose radiotherapy to progressive tumor. Complete metabolic remission is achieved with durable response observed. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-165a3648b6994d4f8bde76d4364f42ac |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2234-943X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Oncology |
| spelling | doaj-art-165a3648b6994d4f8bde76d4364f42ac2025-02-12T05:15:05ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Oncology2234-943X2025-02-011510.3389/fonc.2025.14831171483117Case report: Low-dose radiation reverses pembrolizumab resistance in melanomaKa Hey Agnes Fong0Isaac Ho1Tsz Him So2Department of Oncology, Princess Margaret Hospital, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaDepartment of Clinical Oncology, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaLi Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaImmunotherapy has been the mainstay of the initial systemic treatment for metastatic melanoma regardless of the tumor’s genetic mutation status (Atkins et al., 2022). It is known to offer long-term overall and treatment-free survival benefits, also with generally tolerable side effect profiles. However, upon disease progression on first- and second-line immunotherapy, further systemic treatment options are limited especially for cases without actionable molecular alterations. With emerging evidence suggesting that radiotherapy can enhance the efficacy of immunotherapy via various mechanisms, together with its potential abscopal effect, the possibility of overcoming immunotherapy resistance with radiotherapy is theoretically sound. We report a case of metastatic melanoma which demonstrated a reversal of immunotherapy resistance after the addition of low-dose radiotherapy to progressive tumor. Complete metabolic remission is achieved with durable response observed.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2025.1483117/fullmelanomalow dose radiation (LDR)immunotherapypembrolizumabradiation |
| spellingShingle | Ka Hey Agnes Fong Isaac Ho Tsz Him So Case report: Low-dose radiation reverses pembrolizumab resistance in melanoma Frontiers in Oncology melanoma low dose radiation (LDR) immunotherapy pembrolizumab radiation |
| title | Case report: Low-dose radiation reverses pembrolizumab resistance in melanoma |
| title_full | Case report: Low-dose radiation reverses pembrolizumab resistance in melanoma |
| title_fullStr | Case report: Low-dose radiation reverses pembrolizumab resistance in melanoma |
| title_full_unstemmed | Case report: Low-dose radiation reverses pembrolizumab resistance in melanoma |
| title_short | Case report: Low-dose radiation reverses pembrolizumab resistance in melanoma |
| title_sort | case report low dose radiation reverses pembrolizumab resistance in melanoma |
| topic | melanoma low dose radiation (LDR) immunotherapy pembrolizumab radiation |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2025.1483117/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT kaheyagnesfong casereportlowdoseradiationreversespembrolizumabresistanceinmelanoma AT isaacho casereportlowdoseradiationreversespembrolizumabresistanceinmelanoma AT tszhimso casereportlowdoseradiationreversespembrolizumabresistanceinmelanoma |