Managing immune checkpoint-inhibitor-induced severe autoimmune-like hepatitis by liver-directed topical steroids.

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 3073-3073
Author(s):  
Mirjana Ziemer ◽  
Eleni Koukoulioti ◽  
Jan-Christoph Simon ◽  
Thomas Berg

3073 Background: The CTLA4-antibody ipilimumab, and PD-1-antibodies pembrolizumab as well as nivolumab have revolutionized antineoplastic therapies. Induction of autoimmune-like drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is within the spectrum of adverse reactions of these new drugs and has been observed in about 1-5 % of patients, developing predominantly within the first 6 to 12 weeks after start of treatment. Immediate application of systemic steroids and a permanent discontinuation of immune checkpoint-inhibition therapy are recommended for any alanine aminotransferase increase ≥ WHO grade 3. In severe autoimmune-like DILI the permanent discontinuation of the immune checkpoint inhibitor is recommended, as drug re-exposure might be associated with a significant risk of a fulminant DILI. Methods: We report six patients with severe grade 3 autoimmune-like DILI (according to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events 4.3) treated with long-term application of budesonide, a liver-directed topical steroid. Results: Immune checkpoint inhibitors were stopped and methylprednisolone was applied initially with a dose of 1 mg/kg body weight and tapered thereafter. To reduce systemic steroids and to minimize the exposure time to systemic steroids, the topical steroid budesonide 3 mg three times per day was additionally given in combination with N-acetylcysteine and ursodeoxycholic acid. Under this multimodal approach transaminases normalized and the respective immune-checkpoint inhibitor could be re-started without re-manifestation of DILI under the continuous treatment with budesonide. Conclusions: Budesonide - a liver-directed topical steroid - might be an interesting approach to target liver related autoimmune adverse reactions induced by immune checkpoint inhibitors without compromising their anti-cancer effect. We were able to safely and effectively re-introduce and continue immune checkpoint inhibitors under the continuous application of the topical steroid without showing any further liver toxicity.

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]


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.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 204589402096096 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew Glick ◽  
Chase Baxter ◽  
David Lopez ◽  
Kashif Mufti ◽  
Stephen Sawada ◽  
...  

Immune checkpoint inhibitors successfully treat various malignancies by inducing an immune response to tumor cells. However, their use has been associated with a variety of autoimmune disorders, such as diabetes, hepatitis, and pneumonitis. Pulmonary arterial hypertension due to checkpoint inhibitor use has not yet been described. We present a novel case of pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with systemic lupus erythematosus and Sjogren’s syndrome overlap that was induced by therapy with the checkpoint inhibitor durvalumab.


Author(s):  
Hassan Izzedine ◽  
Thibaud Chazal ◽  
Rimda Wanchoo ◽  
Kenar D Jhaveri

Abstract Immune checkpoint inhibitors (CPIs) have recently become a cornerstone for the treatment of different advanced cancers. These drugs have the ability to reactivate the immune system against tumour cells but can also trigger a myriad of side effects, termed immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Although there are numerous reports of CPI-related endocrinopathies, hypercalcaemia as a suspected irAE is not well documented. The mechanisms of CPI hypercalcaemia are not clearly established. However, in our review, four distinct causes emerged: endocrine disease-related, sarcoid-like granuloma, humoral hypercalcaemia due to parathyroid-related hormone and hyperprogressive disease following CPI initiation. Prompt recognition of hypercalcaemia and the institution of therapy can be lifesaving, affording the opportunity to address the underlying aetiology. In this review we discuss the incidence, diagnosis and management of immune-related hypercalcaemia in oncological patients receiving CPI agents.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Nivedita Sudhekar ◽  
Binoy Yohannan ◽  
Mark Feldman

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors have changed the therapeutic milieu for patients with metastatic melanoma. However, their use may promote autoimmunity in virtually any organ in the body due to the blockade of intrinsic immune down regulators such as cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen- 4 (CTLA-4), programmed cell death 1 (PD1) or its ligand (PDL1). Immune mediated adverse neurological events are rare with these agents, however, and are seen in < 1% of treated patients. We report a patient with immune checkpoint inhibitor associated autoimmune encephalitis, with complete clinical recovery after treatment.Case Report: A 49-year-old female with metastatic melanoma currently on nivolumab therapy but recently on ipilimumab/nivolumab combined therapy presented with a new headache. She also reported associated confusion, loss of balance, personality changes and language difficulty. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain did not reveal any evidence of metastasis, infarct, meningitis, or encephalitis. Lumbar puncture revealed an elevated protein level and pleocytosis, with a normal glucose level. She was started on empiric glucocorticoid therapy with a presumptive diagnosis of immune checkpoint inhibitor associated autoimmune encephalitis. She improved considerably by day 3 of treatment with complete resolution of neurological symptoms by day 5.Conclusion: Immune checkpoint inhibitors are increasingly important in cancer immunotherapy as they can cause sustained remissions in patients with metastatic melanoma and other malignancies. Because these drugs block immune-regulatory targets, they can lead to enhanced activation of immune system resulting in immune-related adverse events. Autoimmune encephalitis is a rare immune-related adverse event associated with immune checkpoint inhibitors. The incidence of autoimmune encephalitis is higher with combination or sequential CTLA-4 (ipilimumab) and PD1(nivolumab) inhibitor therapy than with monotherapy. With more widespread use of immunotherapy, it is important for clinicians to be aware of this rare and reversible cause of encephalitis. Early recognition and prompt initiation of immunosuppressive therapy with glucocorticoids is essential to enhance neurological recovery.


2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 179-184 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chad Glisch ◽  
Yuya Hagiwara ◽  
Stephanie Gilbertson-White ◽  
Yubo Gao ◽  
Laurel Lyckholm

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors have changed the landscape of cancer care by increasing progression-free and overall survival in some patients with cancer. We evaluated use and variables contributing to immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment near the end of life. Methods: We studied 157 patients who received immune checkpoint inhibitors and died between January 2015 and December 2018. All patients had a palliative care consult any time between starting an immune checkpoint inhibitor and death. Univariate and multivariate models were used to examine variables related to immune checkpoint inhibitor use near the end of life. Results: Among 157 patients studied, 42 (27%) received a dose of immune checkpoint inhibitor in the last 30 days of life. Those who received treatment in the last 30 days of life had lower hospice enrollment (19 [45%] vs 78 [69%], P = .007) and higher rates of dying in the hospital (23 [56%] vs 33 [29%], P = .002). The percentage of patients with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) ≥3 at the time of last immune checkpoint inhibitor dose was higher in the group that received immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment in the last 30 days of life (11 [26%] vs 9 [8%], P = .003). Lack of traditional chemotherapy after immune checkpoint inhibitor, ECOG ≥3, and lack of hospice enrollment were independently associated with receiving immune checkpoint inhibitor in the last 30 days of life. Conclusion: Immune checkpoint inhibitor use in the last 30 days of life is common and associated with poor performance status, lower hospice enrollment, and dying in the hospital.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianyang Fu ◽  
Wang-Zhong Li ◽  
Nicole A. McGrath ◽  
Chunwei Walter Lai ◽  
Gagandeep Brar ◽  
...  

BackgroundOverall risks of hepatotoxicity with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have yet to be compared in primary liver cancers to other solid tumors.MethodsWe reviewed data from the PubMed, Embase, and Scopus databases, and assessed the risk of hepatotoxicity associated with ICIs.ResultsA total of 117 trials were eligible for the meta‐analysis, including 7 trials with primary liver cancers. The most common hepatotoxicity was ALT elevation (incidence of all grade 5.29%, 95% CI 4.52-6.20) and AST elevation (incidence of all grade 5.88%, 95% CI 4.96-6.97). The incidence of all grade ALT and AST elevation was 6.01% and 6.84% for anti-PD‐1 (95% CI 5.04-7.18/5.69-8.25) and 3.60% and 3.72% for anti-PD-L1 (95% CI 2.72-4.76/2.82-4.94; p&lt; 0.001/p&lt;0.001). The incidence of ≥ grade 3 ALT and AST elevation was 1.54% and 1.48% for anti-PD‐1 (95% CI 1.19-1.58/1.07-2.04) and 1.03% and 1.08% for anti-PD-L1 (95% CI 0.71-1.51/0.80-1.45; p= 0.002/p&lt;0.001). The incidence of all grade ALT and AST elevation was 13.3% and 14.2% in primary liver cancers (95% CI 11.1-16.0 and 9.93-20.36) vs. 4.92% and 5.38% in other solid tumors (95% CI 4.21-5.76 and 4.52-5.76 in other solid tumors; p &lt;0.001/p&lt;0.001).ConclusionOur study indicates that anti-PD-1 is associated with a higher risk of all‐ and high‐grade hepatotoxicity compared to anti-PD-L1, and primary liver cancers are associated with a higher risk of all‐ and high‐grade hepatotoxicity compared to other solid tumors.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sunil Chada ◽  
Dora Wiederhold ◽  
Kerstin B. Menander ◽  
Beatha Sellman ◽  
Max Talbott ◽  
...  

AbstractBackgroundWhile immune checkpoint inhibitors are becoming a standard of care for multiple types of cancer, the majority of patients do not respond to this form of immunotherapy. New approaches are required overcome resistance to immunotherapies.MethodsWe investigated the effects of adenoviral p53 (Ad-p53) gene therapy in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors and selective IL2 or IL15 CD122/132 agonists in the aggressive B16F10 tumor model resistant to immunotherapies. To assess potential mechanisms action, pre and post Ad-p53 treatment biopsies were evaluated for changes in gene expression profiles by Nanostring IO 360 assays.ResultsSubstantial synergy of “triplet” Ad-p53 + CD122/132 + anti-PD-1 therapy resulted in potential curative effects associated with complete tumor remissions of both primary and contralateral tumors. Interestingly, contralateral tumors which were not injected with Ad-p53 showed robust abscopal effects resulting in statistically significant decreases in tumor size and increased survival (p<0.001). None of the monotherapies or doublet treatments induced complete tumor regressions. Ad-p53 treatment increased Type I Interferon, CD8+ T cell, immuno-proteosome antigen presentation and tumor inflammation gene signatures. Ad-p53 treatment also decreased immune suppressive TGF-beta, beta-catenin, macrophage, and endothelium gene signatures, which may contribute to enhanced immune checkpoint inhibitor (CPI) efficacy. Unexpectedly, a number of previously unidentified, strongly p53 down regulated genes associated with stromal pathways and IL10 expression identified novel anti-cancer therapeutic applications.ConclusionsThese results imply the ability of Ad-p53 to induce efficacious local and systemic anti-tumor immune responses with the potential to reverse resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy when combined with CD122/132 agonists and immune checkpoint blockade. Our findings further imply that Ad-p53 has multiple complimentary immune mechanisms of action which support future clinical evaluation of triplet Ad-p53, CD122/132 agonist and immune checkpoint inhibitor combination treatment.


2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e14525-e14525
Author(s):  
Abdul Miah ◽  
Songzhu Zhao ◽  
Sandip H. Patel ◽  
Andrew Johns ◽  
Madison Grogan ◽  
...  

e14525 Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have improved the survival of patients with multiple cancer types, however ICI treatment is associated with a unique set of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) that can affect any organ. Few studies have evaluated the risk factors and outcomes of ICI induced hepatitis (ICIH). Methods: We utilized an institutional database of patients with advanced cancers treated with ICI between 2011 and 2017 at The OSU Comprehensive Cancer Center to identify patients with ICIH. Any patient who received at least one dose of ICI alone or in combination with other systemic therapies either as part of clinical trial or standard of care were included. Clinical data were extracted through chart abstraction. irAEs were graded using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v5. Overall survival (OS) was calculated from the date of ICI initiation to death from any cause or the date of the last follow-up. OS with 95% confidence intervals were estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method. OS was also evaluated by occurrence of ICIH using the log-rank test. Results: We identified 1,096 patients treated with at least one dose of ICI. Most common cancers included lung (n=224, 20%) and melanoma (n=342, 31%). The most common ICIs were PD1/L1 (n=774, 71%) and CTLA-4 inhibitors (n=195, 18%). ICIH of any grade occurred in 64 (6%) patients. Overall, 46 (71%) were male and median age was 60 years. Severity of hepatitis was grade 1-2 in 30 patients (47%) (Table 1). The incidence of ≥grade 3 ICIH in the entire cohort was 3.1%. Median time to ICIH diagnosis was 63 days. ICIH occurred alone in 24 patients, and co-occurred with other irAEs in 40 patients. The most common co-occurring irAEs were pneumonitis (n=7); colitis (n=15), thyroid abnormality (n=14); and dermatitis (n=15). ICIH was more common in women (p=0.038), in patients treated with combination ICIs (p<0.001), and among patients receiving first line therapy (p=0.018). Patients who developed ICIH had significantly longer OS than patients who did not develop ICIH; there was no difference in OS between patients with ≥grade 3 ICIH vs grade 1-2 (Table). 33 out of 34 patients with ≥grade3 ICIH were treated with steroids; 3 received mycophenolate and one received infliximab. Of patients with ≥grade 3 ICIH, 11 resumed ICI therapy without recurrent ICIH. Conclusions: Female sex, combination immunotherapy, and line of therapy were associated with ICIH. Patients with ICIH had improved clinical outcomes compared to those that did not develop ICIH, even those with higher grade toxicity. Further study is needed to assist in developing risk stratification models and optimal treatment for ICIH. OS of patients with and without immune checkpoint inhibitor hepatitis.[Table: see text]


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