Efficacy and Safety of Dupilumab in a Patient with Metastatic Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma

Q: Did the patient’s cancer progress during dupilumab treatment?

No. The cancer did not progress during the follow-up period when AD improved on dupilumab, and nivolumab was discontinued because cancer control was adequate.

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Aurelia

This case report evaluated the efficacy and safety of dupilumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting interleukin-4 and interleukin-13, in a patient with atopic dermatitis (AD) and a history of metastatic renal cancer. Over more than 20 months of follow-up, the patient showed marked improvement of AD symptoms without cancer recurrence. Findings suggest dupilumab may avoid carcinogenesis and potentially counter tumor-driven immunosuppression. The report emphasizes the need for randomized, controlled, large-scale studies to confirm long-term safety and efficacy and guide clinical practice.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages7

Reading Time18 min

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Abstract

Introduction

Case report

Efficacy and safety of dupilumab in a patient with metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma Csar Ferreira 1, Eg dio Freitas 1 and Tiago Torres 1,2 Journal of International Medical Research 2024, Vol. 52(11) 1–7! The Author(s) 2024 Article reuse guidelines: [sagepub.com/journals-permissions](sagepub.com/journals-permissions)[ ](sagepub.com/journals-permissions)[DOI: 10.1177/03000605241297551](DOI: 10.1177/03000605241297551)[ ](DOI: 10.1177/03000605241297551)[journals.sagepub.com/home/imr](journals.sagepub.com/home/imr) Abstract This case report evaluated the efficacy and safety of dupilumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting interleukin-4 and interleukin-13, in a patient with atopic dermatitis (AD) and a history of metastatic renal cancer. Over 20 months of follow-up, the patient experienced significant improvement in AD symptoms without any recurrence of cancer. In addition to not stimulating carcinogenesis, dupilumab might synergistically inhibit tumor-induced immunosuppression, thereby potentially preventing tumor progression. This case suggests that dupilumab could be a viable treatment option for patients with AD and a history of solid neoplasms, filling a critical gap in current therapeutic approaches. Current evidence indicates that dupilumab does not promote cancer progression, but further research is necessary to confirm its long-term safety in this population. To establish robust scientific evidence and develop precise clinical guidelines, future studies should be randomized, controlled, and large-scale. This will help provide a definitive understanding of the safety and efficacy of dupilumab in patients with a history of cancer and inform clinical practice. In summary, although the initial findings are promising, comprehensive research is essential to ensure the optimal management of AD in patients with a history of malignancies. Keywords Dupilumab, atopic dermatitis, metastatic renal cell carcinoma, efficacy, safety, biologic therapy, interleukin-4, interleukin-13 Date received: 6 August 2024; accepted: 15 October 2024 1 Department of Dermatology, Centro Hospitalar Universit´ario do Porto, Porto, Portugal 2Instituto de Ciˆencias Biomdicas Abel Salazar, University of Porto, Portugal Corresponding author: Tiago Torres, Servio de Dermatologia, Centro Hospitalar do Porto, Edif Ex. CICAP, Rua D. Manuel II, s/n, 4100 Porto, Portugal. Email: [torres.tiago@outlook.com](torres.tiago@outlook.com) Creative Commons Non Commercial CC BY-NC: This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 License ([https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)) which permits non-commercial use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access pages ([https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage](https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage)). Introduction AD is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that significantly affects patients’ quality of life. The pathophysiology of AD involves the complex interplay of genetic, immunological, and environmental factors, with dysregulation of the Th2 immune response playing a central role. This dysregulation leads to excessive production of cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13, which contribute to inflammation and skin barrier dysfunction.1–3 As a chronic disease, AD is associated with various comorbidities over a patient’s life, complicating management. These comorbidities include solid malignancies, the incidence of which has been increasing in developed countries. Managing these patients is challenging because of the lack of evidence supporting the use of current systemic treatments.4,5 Dupilumab, approved in 2017, is a fully human monoclonal antibody that binds to the alpha subunit of the IL-4 receptor, blocking IL-4 and IL-13 signaling and

FAQs

What was dupilumab used for in this case report?

Dupilumab was used to treat atopic dermatitis in a patient who had a history of metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma. It targets IL-4 and IL-13 signaling to modulate the Th2 inflammatory response.

What efficacy results were reported after starting dupilumab?

After about 4 months, the patient’s AD improved substantially, with EASI decreasing to below 7 and itch NRS to 2/10. Improvement continued for about 20 months, with EASI < 3 and itch NRS around 2/10.

Did the patient’s cancer progress during dupilumab treatment?

No. The cancer did not progress during the follow-up period when AD improved on dupilumab, and nivolumab was discontinued because cancer control was adequate.

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Aurelia