DOI: 10.12890/2025_005519

CD4+ lymphocytopenia and Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia in a metastatic breast cancer patient treated with palbociclib and corticosteroids

Authors

  • Shahar Dekel Department of Internal Medicine D, Tel-Hashomer Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
  • Emmanuelle Alaluf Institute of Oncology, Tel-Hashomer Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
  • Tal Sella Institute of Oncology, Tel-Hashomer Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
  • Avshalom Leibowitz Department of Internal Medicine D, Tel-Hashomer Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
  • Ana Belkin Department of Internal Medicine D, Tel-Hashomer Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel

sdekel13@gmail.com

Keywords

Palbociclib, CDK4/6 inhibitor, immunosuppression, opportunistic infections, PCP

Abstract

Background: Palbociclib, a cyclin-dependent kinase 4 and 6 (CDK4/6) inhibitor used to treat metastatic breast cancer, is known to cause myelotoxicity and primarily neutropenia, but its potential to induce severe lymphopenia and opportunistic infections is less understood.
Case description: A 61-year-old woman with metastatic breast cancer treated with palbociclib and corticosteroids was admitted with fever and general weakness. Chest radiography and computed tomography showed bilateral consolidation. She was diagnosed with severe cellular immunodeficiency, very low CD4+ T cell count and several opportunistic infections including Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP).
Conclusion: This case underscores the need for monitoring lymphocyte counts in patients on CDK4/6 inhibitors, particularly those on concomitant corticosteroid therapy. and considering the risk for opportunistic infections in relevant patients.

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References

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Published

2025-07-11

Issue

Vol. 12 No. 8 (2025)

Categories

How to Cite

1.
Dekel S, Alaluf E, Sella T, Leibowitz A, Belkin A. CD4+ lymphocytopenia and Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia in a metastatic breast cancer patient treated with palbociclib and corticosteroids. EJCRIM [Internet]. 2025 Jul. 11 [cited 2026 Nov. 3];12(8). Available from: https://ejcrim.com/index.php/ejcrim/article/view/5519

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