scholarly journals Immune checkpoint inhibitor-related hypogonadism and infertility: a neglected issue in immuno-oncology

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. e002220
Author(s):  
Berna C Özdemir

Despite a significant amount of data on incidence and therapy of immune-related adverse events affecting virtually all organ systems, the potential impact of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) on gonadal function has not been sufficiently studied. The limited evidence available suggests that ICI-related primary hypogonadism due to orchitis as well as secondary hypogonadism due to hypophysitis are a potential risk for infertility. A systematic investigation of gonadal function under ICIs is warranted given the increasing application of ICIs in the adjuvant setting, among young adults and children and the possible influence of sex hormone levels on the efficacy and toxicity of ICIs.

Immunotherapy ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (16) ◽  
pp. 1409-1422 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elissar Moujaess ◽  
Fady Gh Haddad ◽  
Roland Eid ◽  
Hampig Raphael Kourie

The use of immune checkpoint inhibitors has been approved in the advanced and metastatic setting for many types of solid tumors. Nonetheless, their role in the adjuvant setting is limited to the treatment of surgically resected melanoma. Ipilimumab was the first immune checkpoint inhibitor approved for this indication, followed by nivolumab and pembrolizumab. Many ongoing trials are evaluating these molecules in the postoperative setting, alone or in combination with other therapies. Preliminary results are promising regarding the treatment of other cutaneous tumors, lung cancers, head and neck squamous cell carcinomas, bladder cancer and renal cell carcinomas. Some data assessing their use for the adjuvant treatment of esophageal, colorectal, ovarian cancer and other solid tumors are similarly emerging.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew E. Griffin ◽  
Juliel Espinosa ◽  
Jessica L. Becker ◽  
Jyoti K. Jha ◽  
Gary R. Fanger ◽  
...  

AbstractThe antitumor efficacy of cancer immunotherapy has been correlated with specific species within the gut microbiota. However, molecular mechanisms by which these microbes affect host response to immunotherapy remain elusive. Here we show that specific members of the bacterial genus Enterococcus can promote anti-PD-L1 immunotherapy in mouse tumor models. The active enterococci express and secrete orthologs of the NlpC/p60 peptidoglycan hydrolase SagA that generate immune-active muropeptides. Expression of SagA in non-protective E. faecalis was sufficient to promote antitumor activity of clinically approved checkpoint targets, and its activity required the peptidoglycan sensor Nod2. Notably, SagA-engineered probiotics or synthetic muropeptides also promoted checkpoint inhibitor antitumor activity. Our data suggest that microbiota species with unique peptidoglycan remodeling activity may enhance immunotherapy and could be leveraged for next-generation adjuvants.One Sentence SummaryA conserved family of secreted NlpC/p60 peptidoglycan hydrolases from Enterococcus promote antitumor activity of immune checkpoint inhibitors.


2021 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
pp. 153303382110399
Author(s):  
Fan-li Zeng ◽  
Jing-fang Chen

Cholangiocarcinoma is a general term for intrahepatic and extrahepatic malignant tumors deriving in the biliary system. According to the location, it is divided into intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, hilar cholangiocarcinoma, and distal cholangiocarcinoma. Progressive cholangiocarcinoma yields poor outcomes with radiotherapy; therefore, there is an urgent need for new therapeutic breakthroughs. Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy brings the treatment for cancer into a new field, with the use of drugs targeting PD-1/PD-L1 and CTLA-4 considerably extending the survival of patients with melanoma, lung cancer, and other solid tumors. The FDA has approved the application of pembrolizumab for solid tumors with high microsatellite instability and defective mismatch repair, including cholangiocarcinoma. Moreover, the combination of ICIs with chemotherapy and radiation therapy showed good promise. The aim of the present study was to review the application of ICIs in the treatment of cholangiocarcinoma and to summarize the reported individualized immunotherapy-based protocols and ongoing clinical trials for clinical reference.


2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e16194-e16194
Author(s):  
Osama Diab ◽  
Maloree Khan ◽  
Saqib Abbasi ◽  
Anwaar Saeed ◽  
Anup Kasi ◽  
...  

e16194 Background: Hepatocholangiocarcinoma (HCC-CC) is a rare form of cancer with a poor prognosis. Of all primary liver cancers, the incidence of HCC-CC ranges from 0.4 to 14.2%. HCC-CC is a mixed carcinoma with findings of both hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma. Immune checkpoint inhibitors are a potent first line treatment in hepatocellular carcinoma with multiple clinical trial showing effectiveness in cholangiocarcinoma. HCC-CC has limited proven treatment options as patients are generally excluded from clinical trials. In this study we reviewed outcomes of patients with HCC-CC who received immune checkpoint inhibitor in a single center. Methods: Records of patients who had a pathological confirmed HCC-CC by a subspecialized hepatic pathologist at the University of Kansas medical center were reviewed. We identified 6 patients with locally advanced unresectable or metastatic HCC-CC that received immune checkpoint inhibitor between February 2017 and January 2021. Baseline characteristics were obtained, as well as best response, line of therapy, and duration of response. Results: Of the six patients 4 (66%) received PD-1 inhibitor alone and 2 (34%) received combination therapy with CTLA-4 inhibitor for the treatment of HCC-CC. There were 3 (50%) females and 6 (100%) with prior hepatitis C infection. four (66%) patients had metastatic disease and 2 had locally unresectable advanced disease. Objective response rate was 83.3%. One patient achieved complete response and had a treatment holiday after receiving treatment for 2 years, and restarted immunotherapy upon relapse. Four patients had a partial response, of which two passed away after disease progression. One patient had stable disease on 2 different lines of immunotherapy then progressed. Of those who responded, one patient received immunotherapy, 3 (50%) received liver directed therapy and two received chemotherapy or Lenvatinib as first line treatment (Table). Conclusions: Immune checkpoint inhibitors demonstrate potential activity in patients with HCC-CC without unexpected side effect in this unmet need high-risk population. Larger studies are needed to confirm activity and efficacy in this setting.[Table: see text]


Immunotherapy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (14) ◽  
pp. 1205-1213
Author(s):  
Pauline Rochefort ◽  
Françoise Desseigne ◽  
Valérie Bonadona ◽  
Sophie Dussart ◽  
Clélia Coutzac ◽  
...  

Faithful DNA replication is necessary to maintain genome stability and implicates a complex network with several pathways depending on DNA damage type: homologous repair, nonhomologous end joining, base excision repair, nucleotide excision repair and mismatch repair. Alteration in components of DNA repair machinery led to DNA damage accumulation and potentially carcinogenesis. Preclinical data suggest sensitivity to immune checkpoint inhibitors in tumors with DNA repair deficiency. Here, we review clinical studies that explored the use of immune checkpoint inhibitor in patient harboring tumor with DNA repair deficiency.


Immunotherapy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adi Kartolo ◽  
Cynthia Yeung ◽  
Gordon T Moffat ◽  
Lilian Hanna ◽  
Wilma Hopman ◽  
...  

Aim: To evaluate the correlation between venous thromboembolism events (VTEs) and immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-based regimens. Methods: This is a retrospective study of 403 patients with advanced cancer on ICI-based regimens. Results: We report 8% VTE incidence post-ICI initiation over a median of 11.1 months of follow-up. Compared with single-agent ICI, dual-ICI was significantly correlated with higher incidence of VTE (odds ratio [OR]: 4.196, 95% CI: 1.527–11.529, p = 0.005), but chemotherapy–immuno-oncology combination was not (OR: 1.374, 95% CI: 0.285–6.632, p = 0.693). Subsequent systemic therapy post-ICI was also independently associated with higher VTE incidence (OR: 2.599, 95% CI: 1.169–5.777, p = 0.019). Conclusion: Our findings suggest potential underreporting of VTE incidence in ICI clinical trials. As dual-ICI is becoming more prevalent in cancer management, clinicians should maintain vigilance regarding VTE in patients with advanced cancer on ICI-based regimens.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. e238235
Author(s):  
Kwang Kiat Sim ◽  
Katie Connell ◽  
Mayank Bhandari ◽  
David Paton

Peritoneal melanosis is an uncommon benign condition, the pathophysiology of which is unclear. Macroscopically, it appears as diffuse dark brown or black pigmentation within the peritoneum, mimicking more sinister conditions such as metastatic melanoma. It has been described in a variety of contexts, but only exceedingly rarely in association with metastatic melanoma, with only two previous published case reports. We present a case of peritoneal melanosis associated with metastatic melanoma involving the spleen, previously treated with targeted and immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy. With increasing reports of melanoma regression manifesting as cutaneous tumorous melanosis in patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors, we postulate that, similarly, immunotherapy and tumour regression might have a role to play in the pathogenesis of the peritoneal pigmentation in this case.


2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (6) ◽  
pp. 576-583 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamzah Abu-Sbeih ◽  
David M. Faleck ◽  
Biagio Ricciuti ◽  
Robin B. Mendelsohn ◽  
Abdul R. Naqash ◽  
...  

PURPOSE The risk of immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy–related GI adverse events in patients with cancer and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has not been well described. We characterized GI adverse events in patients with underlying IBD who received immune checkpoint inhibitors. PATIENTS AND METHODS We performed a multicenter, retrospective study of patients with documented IBD who received immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy between January 2010 and February 2019. Backward selection and multivariate logistic regression were conducted to assess risk of GI adverse events. RESULTS Of the 102 included patients, 17 received therapy targeting cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4, and 85 received monotherapy targeting programmed cell death 1 or its ligand. Half of the patients had Crohn’s disease, and half had ulcerative colitis. The median time from last active IBD episode to immunotherapy initiation was 5 years (interquartile range, 3-12 years). Forty-three patients were not receiving treatment of IBD. GI adverse events occurred in 42 patients (41%) after a median of 62 days (interquartile range, 33-123 days), a rate higher than that among similar patients without underlying IBD who were treated at centers participating in the study (11%; P < .001). GI events among patients with IBD included grade 3 or 4 diarrhea in 21 patients (21%). Four patients experienced colonic perforation, 2 of whom required surgery. No GI adverse event–related deaths were recorded. Anti–cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 therapy was associated with increased risk of GI adverse events on univariable but not multivariable analysis (odds ratio, 3.19; 95% CI, 1.8 to 9.48; P = .037; and odds ratio, 4.72; 95% CI, 0.95 to 23.53; P = .058, respectively). CONCLUSION Preexisting IBD increases the risk of severe GI adverse events in patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors.


2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 954-960 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine E Renna ◽  
Elizabeth N Dow ◽  
Jason J Bergsbaken ◽  
Ticiana A Leal

Introduction The development of immune checkpoint inhibitors has revolutionized cancer treatment and is now a part of the treatment paradigm for several malignancies. Although immune checkpoint inhibitors are generally well tolerated, treatment is associated with immune-related adverse events, some serious and potentially life threatening. Early identification and prompt appropriate management of immune-related adverse events are crucial to prevent morbidity and mortality. The complexity and severity of immune-related adverse events require interdisciplinary collaboration to optimize care. Patient and caregiver education and continued communication between patients and members of the oncology care team are vital for timely recognition and successful management of immune-related adverse events. The objective of this program is to provide a proof of concept; a pharmacist-led immune checkpoint inhibitor management program will increase early recognition and management of immune-related adverse events through patient and caregiver education and proactively assessing patients for toxicities. Methods At the University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, we developed and implemented a pharmacist-driven program, referred to as the immune checkpoint inhibitor program, which aimed to ensure patient and caregiver education and continuous monitoring of immune-related adverse events. This program utilized pharmacist–patient encounters to improve patient and caregiver education and follow-up monitoring. The design and implementation are detailed. Pharmacist interventions and patient outcomes were evaluated. Results At interim analysis, 47 patients were enrolled in the program and pharmacists completed 34 interventions on 26 patients. Pharmacists are well positioned to educate patients and caregivers on immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy and provide proactive monitoring to detect immune-related adverse events. We hypothesize that the interventions made by pharmacist may lead to earlier recognition and treatment of immune-related adverse events.


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