Cystoid Macular Edema following Treatment with Nanoparticle Albumin-Bound Paclitaxel and Atezolizumab for Metastatic Breast Cancer

Hiroaki Yamane; Tomoko Itagaki; Keiko Kajitani; Yuji Koura; Yoshiharu Kawabuchi; Masahiro Ohara

doi:10.1159/000533999

Cystoid Macular Edema following Treatment with Nanoparticle Albumin-Bound Paclitaxel and Atezolizumab for Metastatic Breast Cancer

Case Rep Oncol. 2023 Oct 16;16(1):1121-1128. doi: 10.1159/000533999. eCollection 2023 Jan-Dec.

Authors

Hiroaki Yamane^{1

2}, Tomoko Itagaki¹, Keiko Kajitani¹, Yuji Koura³, Yoshiharu Kawabuchi⁴, Masahiro Ohara¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Breast Surgery, Hiroshima General Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan.
² Department of Surgery, Yamane Clinic, Hiroshima, Japan.
³ Department of Ophthalmology, Koura Eye Clinic, Hiroshima, Japan.
⁴ Department of Breast Surgery, Hatsukaichi Breast Care Clinic, Hiroshima, Japan.

Abstract

Cystoid macular edema (CME) is a rare side effect associated with chemotherapy. Although the development of CME has been reported to occur following treatment with taxane drugs, such as nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel (Nab-PTX), the occurrence of CME with treatment with atezolizumab has not yet been reported. Here, we report the case of a 49-year-old woman who developed CME 19 months into chemotherapy with Nab-PTX and atezolizumab. Improvement was not achieved with steroid injections into the Tenon's sac, and Nab-PTX and atezolizumab treatments were ceased. One month later, there was subjective improvement in her symptoms. Although many reports have indicated that cessation of chemotherapy has successfully improved CME, a specific treatment for CME has not yet been established. Clinicians should be aware of the ophthalmologic side effects and offer immediate treatment if symptoms develop.

Keywords: Atezolizumab; Breast cancer; Cystoid macular edema; Nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel.

Publication types

Case Reports

Grants and funding

No funding was received for this study.