Journal of Clinical and Investigative Dermatology

Case Report

Oral Lichen Planus Developing after PD-1 Inhibitor Therapy in Two Patients with Malignant Melanoma

Jain N1, Panah E1, Garfield E1, Quan V1, Shi K1, Mohan L1, Yoo S1, Chandra S2, Sosman J2 and Gerami P1*

1Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, USA. 2Division of Hematology and Oncology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, USA.
*Address for Correspondence: Gerami P, Northwestern University, Department of Dermatology, 676 N. St Clair St., Suite 1600Chicago, IL, USA, Tel: (312) 695-1413; Email: p-gerami@northwestern.edu
Submission: 30 May, 2019 Accepted: 19 June, 2019 Published: 28 June, 2019
Copyright: © 2019 Jain N, et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Cutaneous adverse reactions to checkpoint inhibitor therapy commonly include non-specific dermatitis and pruritus, though the development of a wide range of dermatologic toxicities has been described, including lichenoid reactions. Occasional oral mucosal involvement has been reported, with rare erosive changes. Here, we present two cases of erosive oral lichen planus developing after PD-1 inhibitor therapy for malignant melanoma, with one case that later progressed to diffuse cutaneous involvement. Oral involvement in both cases was treated with topical high potency steroids and topical tacrolimus. This treatment regimen allowed one patient to continue immunotherapy and the other to resume immunotherapy after it was discontinued. These cases support erosive oral lichen planus as a notable, serious adverse effect of PD-1 inhibitors.