Therapeutic and Adverse Effect of Anti-PD1 Immunotherapy in Melanoma: A Retrospective, Single-Institute Study of 222 Patients.

Background: The introduction of immuno- and targeted therapeutic modalities meant a breakthrough step in the therapy of melanoma. As a checkpoint inhibitor, the more effective and less toxic anti-PD1 therapy followed an anti-CTLA4 approach.

Methods: From our patient pool, 222 advanced melanoma cases were selected, where anti-PD1 (pembrolizumab, nivolumab) therapy was initiated between March 2015 and December 2020.

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The COVID-19 pandemic has created significant barriers to the treatment of cancer patients requiring regular hospitalisation, as coronavirus infection significantly increases the risk of serious and even fatal complications. In our case report, a middle-aged patient with advanced melanoma has developed immune-mediated pancreatitis after more than a year of pembrolizumab treatment. After changing the therapy, the patient was diagnosed with coronavirus infection, which led to nearly a month of hospitalisation and rehabilitation, thus suspending active oncotherapeutical treatment.