Complete Response to Pembrolizumab in Radiation-Induced Undifferentiated Pleomorphic Sarcoma of the Face: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-30-2026

Publication Title

Case Reports in Oncology

Abstract

Introduction: Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS) as a secondary malignancy following adjuvant radiation therapy is rare and typically associated with poor prognosis. PD-1 inhibition has been previously investigated as a possible treatment in this space. Case Presentation: This case presents a 91-year-old male with UPS of the right parotid region, presumed secondary to radiation therapy for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. The patient was treated with pembrolizumab immunotherapy and a complete clinical response was achieved, with significant improvement noted on restaging scans. Treatment was well-tolerated despite advanced age and multiple comorbidities. Conclusion: This case demonstrates the efficacy of PD-1 inhibitor therapy in radiation-induced UPS and supports emerging evidence for immunotherapy as a viable treatment option in advanced or unresectable sarcomas, particularly with patients who cannot undergo surgery.

First Page

1130

Last Page

1137

PubMed ID

42569618

Volume

19

Issue

1

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License

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