Clinical Report: Depigmentation Resembling Vitiligo After Chemotherapy

Overview

This case study describes a patient with early-stage triple-negative breast cancer who developed vitiligo-like depigmentation after receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy and pembrolizumab.

Background

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype with limited treatment options and poor prognosis. The combination of immune checkpoint inhibitors like pembrolizumab with chemotherapy has been explored in clinical trials for patients with early-stage TNBC.

Data Highlights

No numerical data or trial data was provided in the source material.

Key Findings

• A patient with early-stage TNBC experienced tumor progression after initial chemotherapy.
• Subsequent treatment with taxane- and carboplatin-based chemotherapy plus pembrolizumab led to a pathological complete response.
• Vitiligo-like depigmentation developed during postoperative pembrolizumab maintenance therapy.
• The depigmentation was asymptomatic and did not necessitate treatment interruption.
• Recognition of this cutaneous manifestation may help distinguish it from other dermatological conditions.

Clinical Implications

Clinicians should be aware of the potential for vitiligo-like depigmentation as an immune-related adverse event in patients receiving pembrolizumab.

Conclusion

This case highlights the occurrence of vitiligo-like depigmentation in a patient undergoing pembrolizumab therapy for TNBC, emphasizing the need for awareness of this rare irAE.

Related Resources & Content

1. The ASCO Post, 2022 -- Identifying Women With Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Who May Benefit From Pembrolizumab Plus Chemotherapy
2. Frontiers in Oncology, 2026 -- Case Report: Aplastic anemia associated with parvovirus B19 infection following neoadjuvant pembrolizumab-based chemoimmunotherapy for triple-negative breast cancer
3. Frontiers in Immunology, 2026 -- Adjuvant chemotherapy combined with pembrolizumab immunotherapy for primary triple-negative neuroendocrine carcinoma of the breast: a case report and literature review
4. The ASCO Post, 2022 -- KEYNOTE-522: Sensitivity Analyses Confirm Value of Neoadjuvant Pembrolizumab in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
5. AGO Recommendations for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Patients with Early Breast Cancer: Update 2025 - PMC
6. AGO Recommendations for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Patients with Early Breast Cancer: Update 2025 - PMC
7. https://academic.oup.com/jnci/article/116/10/1654/7698047
8. Abstract PS4-10-01: Neoadjuvant immune checkpoint inhibitors plus chemotherapy in early-stage triple-negative breast cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis | Clinical Cancer Research | American Association for Cancer Research