Focal necrotizing myopathy with 'dropped-head syndrome' induced by cobimetinib in metastatic melanoma

Melanoma Res. 2017 Oct;27(5):511-515. doi: 10.1097/CMR.0000000000000377.

Abstract

Therapeutic advances derived from targeted therapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors can improve melanoma prognosis. Since 2015, cobimetinib has been approved in combination with vemurafenib in the first-line treatment for BRAF-mutated melanoma. For NRAS-mutated melanomas, MEK inhibition seems to be a therapeutic target, and association with checkpoint inhibitor provides a further therapeutic perspective. Infraclinical creatine phosphokinase (CPK) elevation is an MEK inhibitor side effect. We describe a case of focal necrotizing myopathy with 'dropped-head syndrome' induced by cobimetinib, 1 month after its introduction. The clinical presentation comprised interscapular pain, axial fatigue with cervical hypotonia, CPK elevation, intense fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in cervical muscles, and necrotizing myopathy was confirmed by muscle biopsy. Cobimetinib was temporarily discontinued, resulting in CPK normalization. Re-evaluation showed partial response, motivating continuation of combination therapy with a reduced dose of cobimetinib (40 mg/day). Because prescription of targeted therapies is likely to increase, this adverse event should be known.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Azetidines / adverse effects*
  • Azetidines / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • MAP Kinase Kinase 1 / adverse effects*
  • MAP Kinase Kinase 1 / pharmacology
  • Male
  • Melanoma / complications*
  • Melanoma / pathology
  • Muscular Diseases / etiology*
  • Muscular Diseases / pathology
  • Piperidines / adverse effects*
  • Piperidines / pharmacology
  • Skin Neoplasms / complications*
  • Skin Neoplasms / pathology

Substances

  • Azetidines
  • Piperidines
  • MAP Kinase Kinase 1
  • cobimetinib