Some new treatments for lung cancer may shed light on hair color

Some new treatments for lung cancer may shed light on hair color (Keytruda, Opdivo)

What is known about cutaneous adverse events associated with anti–programmed cell death 1 (anti–PD-1) and anti–programmed cell death ligand 1 (anti–PD-L1 ) therapies for patients with lung cancer? How about dark hair color?

Results Fourteen patients (13 men and 1 woman; mean age, 64.9 years) receiving anti–PD-1 or anti–PD-L1 therapy for non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) presented hair repigmentation during follow-up. This hair repigmentation consisted in a diffuse darkening of the hair in 13 of 14 patients, or in black patches between white hairs in 1. Thirteen of 14 patients presented a good clinical response to the treatment, with at least stable disease, and only 1 had to stop the therapy after only 4 cycles of treatment owing to a life-threatening progression of the disease.

Conclusions and Relevance We present to our knowledge the first report of hair repigmentation owing to anti–PD-1/anti–PD-L1 therapy for lung cancer in a series of 14 patients. Hair repigmentation may be a good response marker in patients receiving anti-PD1/anti–PD-L1 therapy for LC.

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamadermatology/article-abstract/2642914?utm_source=TWITTER&utm_medium=social_jn&utm_term=957431130&utm_content=content_engagement%7carticle_engagement&utm_campaign=article_alert&linkId=39689169&redirect=true