Cemiplimab-Induced Alopecia Areata

    March 2023 in “ International Journal of Trichology ”
    Bianca Maria Piraccini, Francesca Comito, Barbara Melotti, Ignazio Stanganelli, Metelda Medri, Francesco Savoia
    TLDR A man developed temporary hair loss after taking a cancer drug, which might indicate a better treatment response.
    A 72-year-old man developed alopecia areata (AA) after being treated with cemiplimab, an anti-PD1 drug, for metastatic squamous cell carcinoma. This was the first reported case of AA associated with cemiplimab, adding to the known side effects of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) like nivolumab, pembrolizumab, and ipilimumab. The patient's AA resolved spontaneously after 4 months without treatment, while his cancer continued to respond well to cemiplimab. The occurrence of AA during ICI treatment was suggested to indicate a better therapeutic response, as seen in this case.
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