scholarly journals Association of immune-checkpoint inhibitors and the risk of immune-related colitis among elderly patients with advanced melanoma: real-world evidence from the SEER–Medicare database

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 204209862199127
Author(s):  
Abdulaali R. Almutairi ◽  
Marion Slack ◽  
Brian L. Erstad ◽  
Ali McBride ◽  
Ivo Abraham

Background: The use of anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (anti-CTLA4) therapy (ipilimumab) and anti-programmed cell-death 1 (anti-PD1) agents (nivolumab and pembrolizumab) in advanced melanoma have been associated with immune-related adverse events (irAEs) including colitis. We aimed to estimate the incidence and the risk of colitis in elderly patients with advanced melanoma treated with anti-CTLA4 and anti-PD1 in the real-world setting. Methods: Elderly patients (age ⩾ 65 years) diagnosed with advanced melanoma between 2011 and 2015 and treated with anti-CTLA4 or anti-PD1 agents were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)–Medicare data. We estimated the risk of colitis from start of treatment up to 90 days from the last dose of therapy. We used the log-rank test and logistic regression with adjustment for potential confounders using the inverse probability of treatment weighting method. We conducted several sensitivity analyses. Results: A total of 274 elderly patients with advanced melanoma were included in our cohort. The risk of colitis was similar between anti-PD1 users and anti-CTLA4 users based on log-rank test ( p = 0.17) and logistic regression [odds ratio (OR) = 0.35, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) 0.04–2.79]. Sensitivity analyses for patients with all-stage melanoma showed a significantly lower risk of colitis in anti-PD1 compared with anti-CTLA4 treated patients based on log-rank test ( p = 0.017) and logistic regression (OR = 0.21, 95%CI 0.09–0.53). Conclusion: Elderly with advanced melanoma treated with anti-CTLA4 or anti-PD1 had a similar risk of developing colitis. However, there was a statistically significant difference in the risk of colitis between anti-CTLA4 or anti-PD1 users among all-stage-melanoma patients. Plain Language Summary Risk of colitis (inflammation of the large intestine) in elderly patients with melanoma treated with immune-checkpoint inhibitors (a group of medications that uses the patient’s immune system to fight cancer) While the anti-cancer agents known as immune-checkpoint inhibitors have had a great impact on the treatment of melanoma, they may also have side effects. This study estimated the risk of colitis, a chronic inflammation of the colon, in elderly patients with melanoma treated with anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (anti-CTLA4) or anti-programmed cell-death 1 (anti-PD1) agents, using data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)–Medicare linked database. Overall, we found that the risk of colitis was not different between anti-PD1 users and anti-CTLA4 users with advanced-stage melanoma. However, after including patients across all stages of melanoma, we found a significantly lower risk of colitis with anti-PD1 compared with anti-CTLA4.

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. e001999
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Dudnik ◽  
Samuel Kareff ◽  
Mor Moskovitz ◽  
Chul Kim ◽  
Stephen V Liu ◽  
...  

BackgroundLittle is known regarding the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) in patients with advanced large-cell neuroendocrine lung carcinoma (aLCNEC).Methods125 consecutive patients with aLCNEC were identified in the electronic databases of 4 participating cancer centers. The patients were divided into group A (patients who received ICI, n=41) and group B (patients who did not receive ICI, n=84). Overall survival since advanced disease diagnosis (OS DX) and OS since ICI initiation (OS ICI) were captured.ResultsWith a median follow-up of 11.8 months (mo) (IQR 7.5–17.9) and 6.0mo (IQR 3.1–10.9), 66% and 76% of patients died in groups A and B, respectively. Median OS DX was 12.4mo (95% CI 10.7 to 23.4) and 6.0mo (95% CI 4.7 to 9.4) in groups A and B, respectively (log-rank test, p=0.02). For ICI administration, HR for OS DX was 0.59 (95% CI 0.38 to 0.93, p=0.02—unadjusted), and 0.58 (95% CI 0.34 to 0.98, p=0.04—adjusted for age, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS), presence of liver metastases and chemotherapy administration). In a propensity score matching analysis (n=74; 37 patients in each group matched for age and ECOG PS), median OS DX was 12.5 mo (95% CI 10.6 to 25.2) and 8.4 mo (95% CI 5.4 to 16.9) in matched groups A and B, respectively (log-rank test, p=0.046). OS ICI for patients receiving ICI as monotherapy (n=36) was 11.0 mo (95% CI 6.1 to 19.4).ConclusionsWith the limitations of retrospective design and small sample size, the results of this real-world cohort analysis suggest a positive impact of ICI on OS in aLCNEC.


Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (23) ◽  
pp. 6050
Author(s):  
Chorog Song ◽  
Hyunjin Park ◽  
Ho Yun Lee ◽  
Seunghak Lee ◽  
Joong Hyun Ahn ◽  
...  

Conventional methods to determine the response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are limited by the unique responses to an ICI. We performed a radiomics approach for all measurable lesions to identify radiomic variables that could distinguish hyperprogressive disease (HPD) on baseline CT scans and classify a dissociated response (DR). One hundred and ninety-six patients with advanced lung cancer, treated with ICI monotherapy, who underwent at least three CT scans, were retrospectively enrolled. For all 621 measurable lesions, HPDv was determined from baseline CT scans using the tumor growth kinetics (TGK) ratio, and radiomics features were extracted. Multivariable logistic regression analysis of radiomics features was performed to discriminate DR. Radiomics features that significantly discriminated HPDv on baseline CT differed according to organ. Of the 196 patients, 54 (27.6%) had a DR and 142 (72.4%) did not have a DR. Overall survival in the group with a DR was significantly inferior to that in the group without a DR (log rank test, p = 0.04). Our study shows that lesion-level analysis using radiomics features has great potential for discriminating HPDv and understanding heterogeneous tumor progression, including a DR, after ICI treatment.


2018 ◽  
Vol 76 (3) ◽  
pp. 237-252
Author(s):  
Eugénia Matos Pires ◽  
Cecília Moura

The overall increasing incidence of melanoma will very probably be the trend over the next two decades. This data stresses the need for new therapeutic resources, other than classic chemotherapy. Nevertheless, the treatment of advanced melanoma has been changed in the last decade due to novel therapeutic strategies, including immunotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4) and programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1). Inhibition of these targets enhances immune host response against cancer and results in durable objective responses, establishing immunotherapy as standard treatment for BRAF wild-type melanoma patients in advanced stages (III – unresectable and IV – metastases at distant sites). Anti-CTLA-4, ipilimumab, was the first–in-class immune checkpoint inhibitor to show improvement in overall survival in advanced melanoma. Latter, anti-PD-1 agents, nivolumab and pembrolizumab, have improved tumour response and tolerability in comparison with ipilimumab. Differences in outcome are expected considering the distinct target of checkpoint inhibition pathways. In this setting, it is of utmost importance the assessment of efficacy by combined therapy and the identification of biomarkers capable of predicting response to anti-CTLA-4 and anti-PD-1. After a previous review on cancer biology and mechanisms of action of immune checkpoint inhibitors we will focus on the main data on the immune checkpoint inhibitors for melanoma currently available in daily practice.


2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. ii105-ii105
Author(s):  
Alexander Hulsbergen ◽  
Asad Lak ◽  
Yu Tung Lo ◽  
Nayan Lamba ◽  
Steven Nagtegaal ◽  
...  

Abstract INTRODUCTION In several cancers treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), a remarkable association between the occurrence of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) and superior oncological outcomes has been reported. This effect has hitherto not been reported in the brain. This study aimed to investigate the relation between irAEs and outcomes in brain metastases (BM) patients treated with both local treatment to the brain (LT; i.e. surgery and/or radiation) and ICIs. METHODS This study is a retrospective cohort analysis of patients treated for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) BMs in a tertiary institution in Boston, MA. Outcomes of interest were overall survival (OS) and intracranial progression-free survival (IC-PFS), measured from the time of LT. Sensitivity analyses were performed to account for immortal time bias (i.e., patients who live longer receive more cycles of ICIs and thus have more opportunity to develop an irAE). RESULTS A total of 184 patients were included; 62 (33.7%) were treated with neurosurgical resection and 122 (66.3%) with upfront brain radiation. irAEs occurred in 62 patients (33.7%). After adjusting for lung-Graded Prognostic Assessment, type of LT, type of ICI, newly diagnosed vs. recurrent BM, BM size and number, targetable mutations, and smoking status, irAEs were strongly associated with better OS (HR 0.33, 95% CI 0.19 – 0.58, p < 0.0001) and IC-PFS (HR 0.41; 95% CI 0.26 – 0.65; p = 0.0001). Landmark analysis including only patients who received more than 3 cycles of ICI (n = 133) demonstrated similar results for OS and IC-PFS, as did sensitivity analysis adjusting for the number of cycles administered (HR range 0.36 – 0.51, all p-values < 0.02). CONCLUSIONS After adjusting for known prognostic factors, irAEs strongly predict superior outcomes after LT in NSCLC BM patients. Sensitivity analysis suggests that this is unlikely due to immortal time bias.


BMC Cancer ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rulan Ma ◽  
Quanziang Wang ◽  
Deyu Meng ◽  
Kang Li ◽  
Yong Zhang

Abstract Background Immune checkpoint inhibitors-induced myocarditis presents unique clinical challenges. Here, we assessed post-marketing safety of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein-4 (CTLA-4), programmed cell death-1 (PD-1), and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitors by mining the real-world data reported in two international pharmacovigilance databases. Methods We analyzed immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs)-associated fatal adverse drug events (ADEs) reports from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) collected from July 1, 2014 to December 31, 2019 and data from EudraVigilance (EV) database accessed on February 29, 2020. Three different data mining approaches were used to detect the signal of fatal myocarditis caused by ICIs. Results Based on 7613 ICIs-related ADEs reported to the EV database and 5786 ICIs-associated ADEs submitted to the FAERS database, the most frequently reported ADE was ipilimumab-related colitis. For myocarditis, nivolumab-associated myocarditis was the most common. Among the five fatal toxic effects associated with ICIs, the lethality rate of myocarditis was the highest. Therefore, we further analyzed ICI-associated myocarditis and found that elderly patients and male patients were more likely to develop ICIs-related myocarditis. The results of signal detection showed that the risk signal of avelumab-related myocarditis detected by reporting odds ratio (ROR) method and proportional reporting ratios (PRR) method was the highest, whereas the signal strength of ipilimumab-related myocarditis detected by Bayesian confidence propagation neural networks (BCPNN) method was the strongest. Conclusion The findings of this study indicated the potential safety issues of developing myocarditis when using ICIs, which were consistent with the results of previous clinical trials and could provide a reference for clinical workers when using ICIs.


2021 ◽  
Vol 36 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco Trevisani ◽  
Federico Di Marco ◽  
Francesco Fiorio ◽  
Monica Cattaneo ◽  
Erika Rijavec ◽  
...  

Abstract Background and Aims The optimal use of immune and target therapies, the optimal use of standard chemotherapy (CT) is of paramount importance, especially for patients affected by chronic kidney disease (CKD) who require dose adjustment according to the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) to avoid acute kidney injury (AKI) establishment. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and platinum-based chemotherapy (CT) are options for the palliative treatment of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Recently, CT in combination with immune-checkpoint inhibitors has become the treatment of choice for this setting of patients. Therefore, it is fundamental to investigate the potential nephrotoxic effects of both treatments and their potential additive effects on renal function. Aim of our study was to compare the nephrotoxic effect of both ICIs and CT (cisplatin and carboplatin-based) in a consecutive cohort of patients affected by metastatic NSCLC. Method A consecutive cohort of 126 patients treated in first-line for NSLCL was enrolled in a single tertiary Hospital between 2018 and 2020. Inclusion criteria were: age (> 18 years old), eGFR (> 15 ml/min/1.73), histological diagnosis of metastatic NSCLC. Each patient underwent immunotherapy or CT according to clinical conditions, comorbidities and programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression status. eGFR (using CKD-EPI formula 2009) was detected at baseline and after each cycle of immunotherapy or CT (using cisplatin or carboplatin) in order to determine the correct renal status using the K-DIGO 2012 guidelines for AKI stages and CKD classes. Pts were subdivided into CKD categories G according to their eGFR values before and after the treatment. AKI onset was evaluated by rise in creatine levels according to K-DIGO criteria. Clinical stage according to cTNM (AJCC TNM system-2019) was collected at baseline before the first treatment. Comorbidities (e.g., diabetes, blood hypertension, overweight and obesity) were also included. Comparison between numerical variables was performed using linear regressions; between groups using Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test for numerical variables and Pearson’s Chi square test for categorical variables. Log rank test was used to test differences between groups in terms of AKI onset during the therapy. Results Clinical and pathological characteristics are reported in table 1. From the analysis, no significative differences were detected between Immunotherapy and CT group for age, gender, basal serum creatinine, basal eGFR, basal BMI, diagnosis of diabetes, hypertension, basal CKD G group or overall AKI onset. Treatment cycles were significantly different between the two groups (p<0.001) with a short median number of cycles for the CT group. No significative difference in terms of decay of eGFR calculated as final-basal values was detected (p=0.8). AKI onset over cycles was significantly different between the two groups (p=0.02), observing a higher risk of developing earlier AKI for CT group (cisplatin or carboplatin) (13,9%) with respect to immunotherapy (7,4%) (figure 1 and 2). Conclusion Our study highlights that both cisplatin and carboplatin-based CT displays an augmented incidence of AKI development after a lower number of therapy cycles in respect of immunotherapy. The nephrotoxic effects of combined therapy for NSLCL should be always evaluated by nephrologist during the treatment of NSLCL patients to avoid an augmented risk of AKI derived from the combination of immunotherapy and CT in first line.


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.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. A110-A111
Author(s):  
Michael Salim ◽  
Wafa Dawahir ◽  
Janice L Gilden ◽  
Andriy Havrylyan

Abstract Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are novel immunotherapy agents that have been used to treat multiple advanced cancer. Even though they confer potential clinical advantages by regulating immune reactions, they have been linked with serious immune-mediated adverse events. Here we present a case of a patient who was treated with ICIs, Nivolumab (programmed death-1 inhibitor) and Ipilimumab (cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 inhibitor), and subsequently developed two concurrent immune-related endocrine disorders. Clinical Case: An 83-year-old man with advanced renal cell carcinoma presented with generalized weakness. He had finished four cycles of immunotherapy with Nivolumab and Ipilimumab, and Ipilimumab was discontinued afterward. Two days after the fifth cycle of immunotherapy with Nivolumab, he developed worsening fatigue, nausea, and anorexia. He appeared mildly volume depleted with borderline hypotensive (104/63 mmHg). The rest of the physical exam was unremarkable. Initial tests showed elevated levels of TSH (13.15 uIU/mL, ref 0.45–5.33 uIU/L), reduced levels of free T4 (<0.25 ng/dL, ref 0.58–1.64 ng/dL), free T3 (1.72 pg/mL, ref 2.5–3.9 pg/mL), negative thyroglobulin antibody, and elevated levels of thyroid peroxidase antibody (429 IU/mL, ref <9 IU/mL), thus suggesting primary hypothyroidism. Serum levels of sodium and potassium were unremarkable (136 meQ/L, ref 136–145 mEq/L; 3.6 meQ/L, ref 3.5–5.1 meQ/L respectively). His baseline TSH was normal three months prior to arrival (1.31 uIU/mL) and suppressed one month prior to arrival (0.01 uIU/mL). Immune-related thyroiditis with immune checkpoint inhibitors was suspected. He was given levothyroxine and observed in the hospital. After two days of hospitalization, weakness had slightly improved. However, he still had persistent nausea. He also developed low blood pressure (90/47 mmHg) and mild hyponatremia (133 mEq/L) with a normal potassium level. Further investigation showed low cortisol (1.0 ug/dL, ref 5.0–21.0), low ACTH (13 pg/mL, ref 6–50 pg/mL), cortisol level at 30 and 60 minutes post-cosyntropin stimulation test of 10.8 ug/dL (ref 13.0–30.0 ug/dL) and 14.8 ug/dL (ref 14.0–36.0 ug/dL) respectively, and negative adrenal antibodies, suggesting of secondary adrenal insufficiency due to hypophysitis. The patient was started on hydrocortisone, and his symptoms improved afterward. Conclusion: This case report highlights the common pitfall of managing immune-related endocrine disorders of ICIs. Adrenal insufficiency may present with a broad range of nonspecific symptoms, which could be attributed to hypothyroidism, underlying illness, or medications. Although a rare adverse effect, it is prudent to recognize adrenal insufficiency superimposed on primary hypothyroidism. Introducing thyroxine before replacing glucocorticoids can lead to an adrenal crisis.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rulan Ma ◽  
Quanziang Wang ◽  
Deyu Meng ◽  
Kang Li ◽  
yong zhang

Abstract Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors induced myocarditis presents unique clinical challenges. Here, we assessed post-marketing safety of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein-4 (CTLA-4), programmed cell death-1 (PD-1), and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitors by mining the real-world data reported in two international pharmacovigilance databases. Methods: We analyzed immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs)-associated fatal adverse drug events (ADRs) reports from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) collected from July 1, 2014 to December 31, 2019 and data from EudraVigilance (EV) database accessed on February 29, 2020. Three different data mining approaches were used to detect the signal of fatal myocarditis caused by ICIs. Results: Based on 7613 ICIs-related ADEs reported to the EV database and 5786 ICIs-associated ADEs submitted to the FAERS database, the most frequently reported ADE was ipilimumab-related colitis. For myocarditis, nivolumab-associated myocarditis was the most common. Among the five fatal toxic effects associated with ICIs, the lethality rate of myocarditis was the highest. Therefore, we further analyzed ICI-associated myocarditis and found that elderly patients and male patients were more likely to develop ICIs-related myocarditis. The results of signal detection showed that the risk signal of avelumab-related myocarditis detected by reporting odds ratio (ROR) method and proportional reporting ratios (PRR) method was the highest, whereas the signal strength of ipilimumab-related myocarditis detected by Bayesian confidence propagation neural networks (BCNPP) method was the strongest. Conclusion: The findings of this study indicated the potential safety issues of developing myocarditis when using ICIs, which are consistent with the results of previous clinical trials and can provide a reference for clinical workers when using ICIs.


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