Rapid Life-Saving Response to Anti-PD-1 in a Solid Organ Transplant Recipient With Metastatic Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Case Report and Review.

Anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) therapy is considered effective in the treatment of metastatic or locally advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma but the use of these agents in solid organ transplant recipients (SOTRs) is often taken with caution. While anti-tumor effects without graft rejection have been reported, studies have shown high rates of fatal graft rejection with immune checkpoint therapy. In this case report, we present an SOTR patient with life-threatening, acute hypoxic respiratory failure due to rapidly progressive metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma with lung and pleural involvement.