Severe pan-uveitis in a patient treated with vemurafenib for metastatic melanoma

BMC Cancer

Michiel S van der Heijden¹  John B Haanen¹  Annette C Moll²  Christina Meenken²  Sanne EJ Wolf² 

[1]Department of Medical Oncology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands

[2]Department of Ophthalmology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

关键词: BRAF;    Vemurafenib;    Uveitis;    Melanoma;   

Others  :  859237
DOI  :  10.1186/1471-2407-13-561

 received in 2013-08-29, accepted in 2013-11-25,  发布年份 2013

【 摘 要 】

Background

Vemurafenib, an inhibitor of genetically activated BRAF, is now commonly prescribed for metastatic melanoma harboring a BRAF mutation. Reports on side effects have focused on cutaneous complications. We here present a case of a severe pan-uveitis associated with vemurafenib use.

Case presentation

A 63-year old female was treated with the BRAF inhibitor vemurafenib for metastatic melanoma. After seven weeks of treatment, she developed near-complete visual loss in the course of a few days, as a result of severe uveitis. Vemurafenib had to be discontinued and systemic and topical corticosteroids were initiated. The visual symptoms improved slowly, however the cerebral metastases progressed and the patient died from her disease.

Conclusion

Treatment with vemurafenib has become an important component of standard clinical care for patients with metastatic melanoma. In addition, it is one of the best examples of genotype-directed therapy. This case illustrates that vemurafenib-induced uveitis can develop fast and be slow to resolve. Awareness of this potentially severe side effect is of major importance to oncologists and aggressive treatment should be considered.

【 授权许可】

   
2013 Wolf et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

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