Corneal Transplant Rejection Following Durvalumab Therapy in a Patient With NSCLC: A Case Report

J Immunother. 2025 Jan 1;48(1):32-33. doi: 10.1097/CJI.0000000000000536. Epub 2024 Jul 30.

Abstract

We report the case of corneal transplant rejection in a 77-year-old male receiving durvalumab as consolidative therapy for stage IIIB non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Following successful chemoradiation and initiation of durvalumab, the patient underwent a right corneal transplant for corneal dystrophy. Six months after an initially stable post-transplant course, he developed progressive visual decline culminating in graft failure 1 year later despite treatment with prednisone eye drops. This case adds to the limited evidence implicating immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in corneal graft rejection, emphasizing the need for multidisciplinary evaluation and close monitoring of corneal transplant recipients undergoing ICI therapy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal* / adverse effects
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal* / therapeutic use
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological / adverse effects
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological / therapeutic use
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* / diagnosis
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* / drug therapy
  • Corneal Transplantation* / adverse effects
  • Graft Rejection* / diagnosis
  • Graft Rejection* / etiology
  • Humans
  • Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors / adverse effects
  • Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Lung Neoplasms* / diagnosis
  • Lung Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Male
  • Neoplasm Staging

Substances

  • durvalumab
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological
  • Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors