Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40201762›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in endocrinology2025

Cemiplimab and diabetic ketoacidosis: a case report of a rare endocrinopathy associated with immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Anna Arecco, Cristian Petolicchio, Alessandro Pastorino, Enrica Teresa Tanda, Lara Vera, Mara Boschetti, Francesco Cocchiara, Davide Carlo Maggi, Diego Ferone, Federico Gatto

Abstract readCase Reports
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in endocrinology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Anna AreccoEndocrinology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, School of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Genova, Genova, Italy.
Cristian PetolicchioEndocrinology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, School of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Genova, Genova, Italy.
Alessandro PastorinoMedical Oncology Unit 1, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy.
Enrica Teresa TandaDepartment of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Genova, Genova, Italy.
Lara VeraEndocrinology Unit, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy.
Mara BoschettiEndocrinology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, School of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Genova, Genova, Italy.
Francesco CocchiaraEndocrinology Unit, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy.
Davide Carlo MaggiEndocrinology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, School of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Genova, Genova, Italy.
Diego FeroneEndocrinology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, School of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Genova, Genova, Italy.
Federico GattoEndocrinology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, School of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Genova, Genova, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionised the cancer treatment landscape in the last decades, improving the outcome of several tumours, such as cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC). ICIs are antibodies blocking several immune checkpoint pathways, as cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) and programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) with its ligand PD-L1. However, the activation of immune response can cause a broad range of side effects, called immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Endocrine irAEs are mainly represented by thyroid dysfunctions (thyrotoxicosis or hypothyroidism) and hypophysitis, while adrenal insufficiency and diabetes mellitus (DM) are less common. Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a potential life-threatening presentation of ICI-induced insulin-dependent DM (IDDM). This report presents a rare case of DKA and IDDM secondary to anti-PD-1 antibody cemiplimab therapy, and this is the third described in the literature to date. Case presentation: We describe the case of a 62-year-old female patient with metastatic perianal squamous cell carcinoma who developed DKA and IDDM after the fifth cycle of cemiplimab. Hyperglycemia (1187 mg/dL), metabolic acidosis (pH 7.27) with bicarbonate levels of 11.9 mmol/L, arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide of 25.7 mmHg with increased anion gap (equal to 25), and hyperketonuria were present. Adequate glycaemic control was difficult to maintain, and intravenously therapy (insulin, sodium bicarbonate, potassium, and fluids) was required for a long time. Subcutaneous basal-bolus insulin treatment was started, but glycaemic control was scarce, also due to the concomitant administration of prednisone for immune-related hepatotoxicity, until the subject's death. Conclusion: This report underlines the importance of the awareness on endocrine irAEs with ICIs, particularly life-threatening DKA. A baseline assessment of glycemia and glycated hemoglobin is mandatory, and we recommend a close monitoring of glycemic trend over time during ICIs therapy. Patients and their caregivers should be informed and counselled to recognise DKA signs and symptoms.

Indexed as

Antibodies, Monoclonal, HumanizedDiabetic KetoacidosisImmune Checkpoint InhibitorsCarcinoma, Squamous CellFemaleHumansMiddle AgedSkin NeoplasmsAntibodies, Monoclonal, HumanizedcemiplimabImmune Checkpoint Inhibitorsanti-PD-1 monoclonal antibodycemiplimabdiabetes mellitusdiabetic ketoacidosisICI-induced hepatotoxicityimmune checkpoint inhibitorsimmune-related adverse eventssquamous cell carcinoma

Identifiers

PMID40201762
PMCPMC11975561

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.