Haruna Iriyama, Madoka Iwase, Yuko Takano, Dai Takeuchi, Takahiro Ichikawa, Reiko Ohata, Yuri Ozaki, Misato Yamamoto, Gai Inaguma, Nao Torii, Chihiro Toyoda, Kana Kawabe, Toyone Kikumori, Norikazu Masuda
This case demonstrates that pembrolizumab can be safely administered for triple-negative breast cancer in a patient receiving ofatumumab for MS, achieving a pathologic complete response.
INTRODUCTION: Pembrolizumab has been widely used since its approval as perioperative therapy for triple-negative breast cancer. While the emergence of diverse antibody drugs has expanded therapeutic options in recent years, reports on the combined use of immune-related antibodies in patients with other diseases remain limited.
CASE PRESENTATION: A 42-year-old woman presented with a 5-cm mass in her right breast. Needle biopsy confirmed invasive ductal carcinoma (cT2N0M0, cStage IIB, triple-negative breast cancer). Pembrolizumab-based therapy was considered, but the patient was already receiving ofatumumab, an anti-CD20 antibody, for multiple sclerosis (MS). After consultation with a neurologist, she underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy with paclitaxel, carboplatin, and pembrolizumab, followed by epirubicin, cyclophosphamide, and pembrolizumab. Preoperative imaging indicated a clinical complete response. She underwent right partial mastectomy with sentinel lymph node biopsy, and postoperative pathology confirmed a pathologic complete response. No exacerbation of MS has been observed to date.
CONCLUSIONS: This case demonstrates that pembrolizumab can be safely administered for triple-negative breast cancer in a patient receiving ofatumumab for MS, achieving a pathologic complete response.