The Effect of Pembrolizumab in Absence of Programmed Death 1 Receptor

Tumor therapy has evolved greatly since the discovery of immunotherapies. New therapies permit targeted approach with less side effects. Immunotherapies target specific components recognized on tumor cells, such as Programmed death-1 (PD-1). Overexpression of PD-1 markers in solid gastrointestinal tumors is a consequence of deficiency in DNA mismatch repair mechanism. Pembrolizumab is an example of immunotherapy targeting PD-1. Pembrolizumab binding of PD-1 helps the immune system recognize tumor cells and initiate destruction cascade. We present a case of a PD-1 negative appendiceal tumor responding to pembrolizumab.