Dupilumab for the Treatment of Cutaneous Immune-Related Adverse Events: A Systematic Review.

Abstract

The emergence of immune checkpoint inhibitors has revolutionized the landscape of cancer treatment in the modern era. However, cutaneous immune-related adverse events (cirAEs) are common, significantly affecting patients' quality of life and often leading to treatment discontinuation, which may compromise oncological outcomes. Dupilumab, an immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) human monoclonal antibody targeting interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13 receptors, is widely used for dermatologic conditions but remains unapproved for cirAEs due to the limited and scattered supporting evidence. This review aimed to summarize the available evidence regarding the use of dupilumab for the management of cirAEs. A systematic review was conducted using MEDLINE/PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science in adherence to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. In total, 25 publications met the eligibility criteria and were included, reporting 136 patients who were diagnosed with 140 cirAEs and were treated with dupilumab. The most frequently treated cirAEs were eczematous rashes, bullous pemphigoid, and maculopapular/morbilliform rashes. Dupilumab was found to be highly effective, with most patients achieving complete or partial responses, even when affected by two concomitant cirAEs. An acceptable safety profile was demonstrated regarding both adverse events and oncological safety, with no additional concerns to be raised. The findings may be encouraging but are limited by the relatively small number of patients treated and the nature of the included studies, with most of them being case reports and case series. More research is warranted, along with more clinical studies, prospective in design, focused on relevant clinical outcomes of this dupilumab-treated subset of patients.