Rhabdomyolysis during high dose interleukin-2 treatment of metastatic melanoma after sequential immunotherapies: a case report

BACKGROUND: The treatment options for metastatic malignant melanoma have drastically changed recently,including the increased use of immunotherapeutic agents that offer significant responses. Accordingly, it hasbecome common for sequential administration of such agents. Despite this, no guidelines exist on propersequencing or potential unique toxicities associated with such sequencing. CASE PRESENTATION: We describe here the first incidence, to our knowledge, of clinically significant rhabdomyolysis associated with high-dose interleukin-2 after prior treatment with ipilimumab, genetically engineered T-cell therapy and subsequent single agent pembrolizumab in a patient with BRAF wild type metastatic malignant melanoma. CONCLUSION: Further studies into the biology of sequential immunotherapy in the treatment of cancer are warranted.