scholarly journals Association of Antibiotics and Other Drugs with Clinical Outcomes in Metastatic Melanoma Patients Treated with Immunotherapy

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Manish D. Angrish ◽  
Arun Agha ◽  
Rossanna C. Pezo

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) targeting the programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) and programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1) have improved survival in many advanced cancers including advanced melanoma, renal cell, urothelial, and non-small-cell lung cancers. However, not all patients respond, and immune-related adverse events (irAEs) are common. Commensal gut bacteria may serve as an immunoregulatory link-mediating ICI response and toxicity. Recent studies have shown that a lack of bacterial diversity, known as gut dysbiosis, can have an adverse impact on patients’ response to ICIs and predispose to the development of irAEs. Data were collected from 167 patients with metastatic melanoma who received antibiotics within 30 days prior to and/or after initiation of ICI and patients who received NSAIDs, statins, steroids, or proton-pump inhibitors (PPI) within 30 days prior to ICI initiation. The primary outcome was time-to-discontinuation (TTD) of ICI therapy, measured from the date of ICI initiation to the last treatment date. The secondary outcome of interest was toxicity, with incidence of irAEs graded as per the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE), version 5.0. Here, we demonstrate that individuals who received antibiotics had a significantly shorter time-to-discontinuation (TTD) of the ICI therapy as opposed those who were not administered antibiotics. Consistent with results from previous research, we propose that antibiotics have a negative effect on a patient’s response to ICI therapy, most likely due to the result of gut dysbiosis, and should be critically assessed in terms of their use in patients undergoing ICI treatment.

2021 ◽  
pp. 107815522110381
Author(s):  
Esra Özyurt ◽  
Serhat Özçelik ◽  
Heves Sürmeli ◽  
Mehmet Çelik ◽  
Murat Ayhan ◽  
...  

Introduction Nivolumab is a human immunoglobulin G4 monoclonal antibody that inhibits programmed cell death-1 activity by binding to the programmed cell death-1 receptors. Cancer cells express increased number of programmed cell death-1 ligands and this allows them to escape the cytotoxic effects of the T cells. Therefore, the negative programmed cell death-1 receptor signal regulates T-cell proliferation and activation is disrupted. However, this change in the activity of the T cells can cause them to lose their ability to recognize host cells. The immune response enabled by these agents has led to side effects, commonly known as “immune-related adverse events.” Case report We report a case of a 66-year-old male patient who was treated with nivolumab for recurrent renal cell carcinoma presented with hepatitis and adrenalitis. Three weeks after starting nivolumab, the patient had abdominal pain and weakness, and then aspartate and alanine transaminase levels were found to be elevated. Management and outcome Hepatitis was predicted to be due to nivolumab, because other causes were excluded. He started using oral methylprednisolone and then, hepatitis improved. However, while receiving methylprednisolone treatment, fludrocortisone was started with the pre-diagnosis of adrenalitis due to the persistence of fatigue, weakness, and hyponatremia and hyperkalemia. With both treatments, the patient's symptoms and sodium and potassium level returned to normal. Discussion This case emphasizes the need for patient's education and awareness of immune-related adverse events, and the importance of understanding the management of life-threatening complications of the checkpoint inhibitors, because these side effects require prompt recognition and treatment.


Author(s):  
Barbara Barnes Rogers, CRNP, MN, AOCN, ANP-BC ◽  
Carolyn Zawislak, MPAS, PA-C ◽  
Victoria Wong, PA-C

Immune checkpoint inhibitors target suppressor receptors, including cytotoxic T-lymphocyte–associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4), programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1), and programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1). The activated T cells are not antigen specific; therefore, the blockade of the immune checkpoint may result in the development of autoimmune adverse events. The most common immune-related adverse events (irAEs) are rash, colitis, and endocrinopathies. However, irAEs that affect the hematologic system are rare and can affect red blood cells (e.g., autoimmune hemolytic anemia), white blood cells, and platelets (e.g., immune thrombocytopenia). Usually one cell line is affected; however, in some cases, multiple cell lines can be affected. Other changes in the hematologic system can also be affected (e.g., cryoglobulinemia, cytokine release syndrome). Due to the rarity and lack of recognition of these AEs, the timing, spectrum of events, and clinical presentation are poorly understood. Management of hematologic irAEs usually involves the use of steroids; however, other agents (e.g., IVIG, cyclosporine, rituximab) or procedures (e.g., plasma exchange, transfusions) can also be used.


2016 ◽  
Vol 74 (3) ◽  
pp. 455-461.e1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shelley Ji Eun Hwang ◽  
Giuliana Carlos ◽  
Deepal Wakade ◽  
Karen Byth ◽  
Benjamin Y. Kong ◽  
...  

Immunotherapy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francisco Aya ◽  
E Azucena González-Navarro ◽  
Clara Martínez ◽  
Esther Carcelero ◽  
Ana Arance

Aim: To evaluate the safety of rechallenge with a different anti-PD-1 antibody after an immune-related adverse event (irAE) that has prompted the discontinuation of anti-PD-1 therapy. Patients & methods: We describe two patients with metastatic melanoma who developed potentially disabling and early irAEs following anti-PD-1 treatment. Therapy was discontinued and toxicities resolved with corticosteroids. Results: Rechallenge switching to an alternative anti-PD-1 antibody did not lead to a new or recurrent irAE. Conclusion: Switching to a different anti-PD-1 antibody when resuming therapy after an irAE might be a safe strategy and warrants further investigation. Structural and biological differences between antibodies might explain the different safety outcomes.


2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanna Karhapää ◽  
Siru Mäkelä ◽  
Hanna Laurén ◽  
Marjut Jaakkola ◽  
Camilla Schalin-Jäntti ◽  
...  

Objective: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) can cause endocrine adverse events. However, endocrine AEs could be related to better treatment outcomes. Our aim was to investigate whether this holds true in a real-world setting of metastatic melanoma patients. Design: A retrospective single-institution study. Methods: We included 140 consecutive metastatic melanoma patients treated with ICI between January 2012 and May 2019. We assessed endocrine toxicity and best possible treatment outcomes from electronic patient records, including laboratory parameters, and radiological images. Results: Of the treated patients, 21 patients (15%) were treated with ipilimumab, 46 (33%) with nivolumab, 67 (48%) with pembrolizumab, and six (4%) with combination therapy (ipilimumab + nivolumab). Endocrine AEs appeared in 29% (41/140) patients. Three patients had two different endocrine AEs. Thyroid disorders were the most common: 26% (36/140), followed by hypophysitis: 4% (5/140). Three subjects (2%, 3/140) were diagnosed with autoimmune diabetes. Three patients had to terminate treatment due to endocrine toxicity. Radiological manifestations of endocrine AEs were found in 16 patients (39%, 16/41). Endocrine toxicity was associated with significantly better treatment outcomes. Median progression-free survival (8.1 months, range 5.1 – 11.1 months vs. 2.7 months, range 2.4 – 3.0 months, P < 0.001), and median overall survival (47.5 months, range 15.5 – 79.5 months vs. 23.7 months, range 15.3 – 32.1 months, P = 0.035) were longer for patients experiencing endocrine AEs. Conclusions: The higher number of endocrine AEs suggest regular laboratory monitoring aids in AE detection. Endocrine AEs in metastatic melanoma may correlate with better treatment outcomes.


2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 6-10
Author(s):  
Letizia Laera ◽  
Silvia Novello

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality, and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for more than 85% of all lung cancers. Immunotherapy has brought a paradigm shift to the treatment of NSCLC. Immune checkpoint inhibitors have emerged as one of the main new therapeutic options for patients with advanced NSCLC. This brief review focuses on analyzing the biological rationale and early clinical data available concerning immunotherapeutic strategies, and more specifically, programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) inhibitors and programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitors.


Author(s):  
Daniele Balducci ◽  
Claudia Quatraccioni ◽  
Antonio Benedetti ◽  
Marco Marzioni ◽  
Luca Maroni

Immune checkpoint inhibitors, such as cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 inhibitors, programmed cell death 1 inhibitors and programmed cell death-ligand 1 inhibitors, have recently emerged as novel drugs in the anti-cancer therapy. Their use in different types of advanced cancer has shown good results and an increase in survival rates. However, immune-related adverse events (irAEs) are frequent and often require special care. IrAEs may affect all the organs, but they are most commonly seen in skin, lungs, endocrine glands and in the gastrointestinal tract where small bowel, colon, the liver and/or the pancreas can be involved. Despite being usually mild and self-resolving, irAEs may present in severe and life-threatening forms, causing the withdrawal of anti-cancer therapy. IrAEs, therefore, represent a challenging condition to manage that often requires the cooperation between the oncologists and the gastroenterologists in order to identify and treat them adequately.


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