Management Of Immunotherapy Adverse Events In Oncological Patients: Anti-Ctla-4, Anti-Pd-1/Pd-L1

Author(s):  
Mattia Brigida ◽  
Alessia Perricelli ◽  
Fausto Sposato ◽  
Maria Giovanna Spadafora ◽  
Angelo Pomillo ◽  
...  

Background: The widespread use of immunotherapy drugs in the oncological field has led to the spread of new toxicities compared to the more common chemotherapy treatments. This is because immunotherapy with anti-CTLA-4 (Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes-Associated Antigen 4), anti-PD-1 and anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibodies has become the standard-of-care in a growing number of indications. Any organ or tissue can be involved, but more commonly side effects are reported regarding skin, colon, endocrine glands, liver, lung and kidney. Other less frequent, but more serious, adverse events are neurological and myocarditis. Methods: We performed an electronic search on PUBMED of the literature concerning immunotherapy-related toxicities and their management in oncological patients from 2007 to 2020, with particular attention to the most recent publications. Aim: To summarize the different types of immunotherapy-related toxicities, together with their incidence and diagnosis, and to simplify their management, especially in the emergency setting. Conclusion: Usually, for grade I toxicities it is not recommended to stop immunotherapy; for most of grade II toxicities, immunotherapy should be postponed to when toxicity will have regressed to grade I, considering the possibility of a corticosteroid treatment for most of toxicities. The majority of grade III and IV require administration of high-dose corticosteroid intravenous therapy and suspension of immunotherapy. Mortality related to immune checkpoint inhibitors’ toxicity, occurring at a rate of 0.3-1.3%, is well below fatality rates due to other oncologic interventions and should not discourage the promising results so far reached by immunotherapy.

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (154) ◽  
pp. 190012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Myriam Delaunay ◽  
Grégoire Prévot ◽  
Samia Collot ◽  
Laurent Guilleminault ◽  
Alain Didier ◽  
...  

Immunotherapy has become a standard of care in oncology, following the recent approvals of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein-4 and programmed cell death-1 inhibitors in lung cancer, melanoma, renal cell carcinoma, Hodgkin's lymphoma, bladder, head and neck cancers. Besides their efficacy, these agents also generate specific immune-related adverse events. Due to the increasing prescription of immune-checkpoint inhibitors, the incidence of immune toxicity will continue to rise. The awareness of immune-related adverse events is key to ensuring both diagnosis and management of the possible serious adverse events. Although severe immune-related adverse events remain rare, they can lead to discontinued treatment or to death if they are not forecasted and managed properly. Even if lung toxicity is not the most frequent adverse event, it remains critical as it can be life-threatening. Herein, the main aspects of pulmonary toxicity are reviewed and guidelines are also proposed in order to manage the possible side-effects.


2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 2007-2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthias Preusser ◽  
Antonio Silvani ◽  
Emilie Le Rhun ◽  
Riccardo Soffietti ◽  
Giuseppe Lombardi ◽  
...  

2007 Background: EORTC-1320-BTG investigated the activity, safety and quality of life of therapy with the tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloid trabectedin (Yondelis) in patients with recurrent higher-grade meningiomas. Trabectedin was originally derived from the Caribbean sea squirt, Ecteinascidia turbinata, and currently is manufactured by total synthesis. Methods: Adult patients with histological diagnosis of WHO grade II or III meningioma and radiologically documented progression after maximal feasible surgery and radiotherapy were randomly assigned in a 2:1 ratio to receive intravenous trabectedin (1.5 mg/m2every three weeks) or local standard of care (LOC). The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). Results: Within 22.1 months, we randomized a total of 90 patients (n=29 in LOC arm, n=61 in trabectedin arm) in 35 institutions and nine countries. In the LOC arm, the following treatments were administered: hydroxyurea (n=11), bevacizumab (n=9), none (n=4), chemotherapy (n=3), somatostatin analogue (n=1), combined chemotherapy and somatostatin analogue (n=1). With 71 PFS events, median PFS was 4.17 months in the LOC and 2.43 months in the trabectedin arm (hazard ratio [HR] for progression, 1.42; 80% CI, 1.00-2.03; p=0.204) with a PFS-6 rate of 29.1% (95% CI, 11.9%-48.8%) in the LOC and 21.1% (95% CI, 11.3%-32.9%) in the trabectedin arm. Median OS was 10.61 months in the LOC and 11.37 months in the trabectedin arm (HR for death, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.54-1.76; p=0.94).Grade 3 to 5 adverse events occurred in 44.4% (18.5% related, 4 serious adverse events, 0 lethal events) of the patients in the LOC and 59% (32.8% related, 57 serious adverse events and 2 toxic deaths) of patient in the trabectedin arm. Conclusions: In this first prospective randomized trial performed in recurrent grade II or III meningioma, trabectedin did not improve PFS and OS and was associated with significantly higher toxicity as compared to LOC treatment. The data collected in this study may serve as benchmark for future clinical trials in this setting. Clinical trial information: NCT02234050.


2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. iii2-iii3 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Preusser ◽  
A Silvani ◽  
E Le Rhun ◽  
R Soffietti ◽  
G Lombardi ◽  
...  

Abstract BACKGROUND EORTC-1320-BTG investigated the activity, safety and quality of life of therapy with the tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloid trabectedin (Yondelis®) in patients with recurrent higher-grade meningiomas. Trabectedin was originally derived from the Caribbean sea squirt, Ecteinascidia turbinata, and currently is manufactured by total synthesis. METHODS Adult patients with histological diagnosis of WHO grade II or III meningioma and radiologically documented progression after maximal feasible surgery and radiotherapy were randomly assigned in a 2:1 ratio to receive intravenous trabectedin (1.5 mg/m2every three weeks) or local standard of care (LOC). The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). RESULTS Within 22.1 months, we randomized a total of 90 patients (n=29 in LOC arm, n=61 in trabectedin arm) in 35 institutions and nine countries. In the LOC arm, the following treatments were administered: hydroxyurea (n=11), bevacizumab (n=9), none (n=4), chemotherapy (n=3), somatostatin analogue (n=1), combined chemotherapy and somatostatin analogue (n=1). With 71 PFS events, median PFS was 4.17 months in the LOC and 2.43 months in the trabectedin arm (hazard ratio [HR] for progression, 1.42; 80% CI, 1.00–2.03; p=0.204) with a PFS-6 rate of 29.1% (95% CI, 11.9%-48.8%) in the LOC and 21.1% (95% CI, 11.3%-32.9%) in the trabectedin arm. Median OS was 10.61 months in the LOC and 11.37 months in the trabectedin arm (HR for death, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.54–1.76; p=0.94).Grade 3 to 5 adverse events occurred in 44.4% (18.5% related, 4 serious adverse events, 0 lethal events) of the patients in the LOC and 59% (32.8% related, 57 serious adverse events and 2 toxic deaths) of patient in the trabectedin arm. CONCLUSIONS In this first prospective randomized trial performed in recurrent grade II or III meningioma, trabectedin did not improve PFS and OS and was associated with significantly higher toxicity as compared to LOC treatment. The data collected in this study may serve as benchmark for future clinical trials in this setting.


2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. ii26-ii26
Author(s):  
Y Pina ◽  
N Tran ◽  
P Forsyth ◽  
S Mokhtari ◽  
E Peguero

Abstract BACKGROUND Immunotherapy have revolutionized cancer treatment in the past decade, with a significant increased survival in patients with solid tumors. However, the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has been associated with a growing number of neurotoxicities, some of which can be fatal if not recognized and treated promptly. Some of these neurotoxicities include very uncommon syndromes like Acute Motor Axonal Neuropathy (AMAN). Herein we present four oncological cases of patients who underwent immunotherapy and developed AMAN. METHODS Four patients were diagnosed with immune-related AMAN between 2017 and 2000 at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center. The patients were treated with standard of care and currently follow up in clinic. RESULTS We describe four oncological patients who developed a motor axonal neuropathy (i.e., AMAN) confirmed on nerve conduction studies following 2 cycles of immunotherapy, including a 28 year old woman with melanoma brain metastasis and a 50 year old woman with renal cell carcinoma both treated with ipilimumab and nivolumab, a 32 year old man with Hodgkin lymphoma who was treated with nivolumab and brentuximab, and a 77 year old woman with renal urothelial cancer who was treated with pembrolizumab and cabozantinib. All four patients were promptly recognized as having immune-related neurotoxicity (irNs), were promptly treated (i.e., high dose steroids +/- IVIG +/- other immunomodulators), and significantly improved and have remained stable. CONCLUSION This is the first case series of patients with AMAN following two cycles of immunotherapy, who were successfully treated. It is crucial to develop a better understanding of the irNs associated with ICIs, including those rare conditions that are difficult to diagnose and treat, as the utilization of these immunomodulating therapies continues to increase and expand to include other solid malignancies. Neurologists should be involved early on in any case of suspected irN to assist in the management of these complicated patients and a swift work up should be initiated for timely diagnosis and treatment.


2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (Supplement_6) ◽  
pp. vi151-vi151
Author(s):  
Yolanda Pina ◽  
Nam Tran ◽  
Neha Verma ◽  
Michael Vogelbaum ◽  
Peter Forsyth ◽  
...  

Abstract BACKGROUND Immunotherapy revolutionized cancer treatment in the past decade, with a significant increased survival in patients with solid tumors. However, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have been associated with a growing number of neurotoxicities, some of which can be fatal if not recognized and treated promptly. Some of these neurotoxicities include very uncommon syndromes like Acute Motor Axonal Neuropathy (AMAN). Herein we present four oncological cases of patients who underwent immunotherapy and developed AMAN. METHODS Four patients were diagnosed with immune-related AMAN between 2017 and 2000 at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center. Patients were treated with standard of care. RESULTS We describe four oncological patients who developed a motor axonal neuropathy (i.e., AMAN) confirmed on nerve conduction studies following 2 cycles of immunotherapy, including a 28 year old woman with melanoma brain metastasis and a 50 year old woman with renal cell carcinoma both treated with ipilimumab and nivolumab, a 32 year old man with Hodgkin lymphoma who was treated with nivolumab and brentuximab, and a 77 year old woman with renal urothelial cancer who was treated with pembrolizumab and cabozantinib. All four patients were promptly recognized as having immune-related neurotoxicity (irNs), were promptly treated (i.e., high dose steroids +/- IVIG +/- other immunomodulators), and significantly improved and have remained stable. CONCLUSION This is the first case series of patients with AMAN following two cycles of immunotherapy, who were successfully treated. It is crucial to develop a better understanding of irNs, including those rare conditions that are difficult to diagnose and treat, as the utilization of these immunomodulating therapies continues to expand to include other solid malignancies. Neurologists should be involved early on in any case of suspected irN to assist in the management of these complicated patients and a swift work up should be initiated for timely diagnosis and treatment.


Author(s):  
Fiona V Cresswell ◽  
David B Meya ◽  
Enock Kagimu ◽  
Daniel Grint ◽  
Lindsey te Brake ◽  
...  

Abstract Background High-dose rifampicin may improve outcomes of tuberculous meningitis (TBM). Little safety or pharmacokinetic (PK) data exist on high-dose rifampicin in HIV co-infection, and no cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) PK data exist from Africa. We hypothesized that high-dose rifampicin would increase serum and CSF concentrations without excess toxicity. Methods In this phase II open-label trial, Ugandan adults with suspected TBM were randomised to standard-of-care control (PO-10, rifampicin 10mg/kg/day), intravenous rifampicin (IV-20, 20mg/kg/day), or high-dose oral rifampicin (PO-35, 35mg/kg/day). We performed PK sampling on day 2 and 14. The primary outcomes were total exposure (AUC0-24), maximum concentration (Cmax), CSF concentration and grade 3-5 adverse events. Results We enrolled 61 adults, 92% were HIV-positive, median CD4 count was 50cells/µL (IQR 46–56). On day 2, geometric mean plasma AUC0-24hr was 42.9h.mg/L with standard-of-care 10mg/kg dosing, 249h.mg/L for IV-20 and 327h.mg/L for PO-35 (P<0.001). In CSF, standard-of-care achieved undetectable rifampicin concentration in 56% of participants and geometric mean AUC0-24hr 0.27mg/L, compared with 1.74mg/L (95%CI 1.2–2.5) for IV-20 and 2.17mg/L (1.6–2.9) for PO-35 regimens (p<0.001). Achieving CSF concentrations above rifampicin minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) occurred in 11% (2/18) of standard-of-care, 93% (14/15) of IV-20, and 95% (18/19) of PO-35 participants. Higher serum and CSF levels were sustained at day 14. Adverse events did not differ by dose (p=0.34) Conclusion Current international guidelines result in sub-therapeutic CSF rifampicin concentration for 89% of Ugandan TBM patients. High-dose intravenous and oral rifampicin were safe, and respectively resulted in exposures ~6- and ~8-fold higher than standard-of-care, and CSF levels above the MIC


2019 ◽  
Vol 49 (5) ◽  
pp. 377-385 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monique E. Cho ◽  
Mary H. Branton ◽  
David A. Smith ◽  
Linda Bartlett ◽  
Lilian Howard ◽  
...  

Background: In adults with primary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), daily prednisone may induce complete remissions (CR) and partial remissions (PR), but relapses are frequent and adverse events are common. Methods: We carried out 2 open-label, uncontrolled trials to explore the efficacy and tolerability of pulse oral dexamethasone as an alternative to daily prednisone. We enrolled adult patients with proteinuria > 3.5 g/day despite the use of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone blockade. In the first trial, we enrolled 14 subjects with FSGS and administered 4 dexamethasone doses (25 mg/m2) daily for 4 days, repeated every 28 days over 32 weeks. The second trial involved a more intensive regimen. Eight subjects received 4 dexamethasone doses of 50 mg/m2 every 4 weeks for 12 weeks, followed by 4 doses of 25 mg/m2 every 4 weeks for 36 weeks; subjects were randomized to 2 doses every 2 weeks or 4 doses every 4 weeks. Results: In the first trial, we enrolled 13 subjects with FSGS and 1 with minimal change disease and found a combined CR and PR rate of 36%. In the second trial, we enrolled 8 subjects. The combined CR and PR rate was 29%. Analysis combining both trials showed a combined CR and PR rate of 33%. Adverse events were observed in 32% of subjects, with mood symptoms being most common. There were no serious adverse events related to the study. Conclusion: We conclude that high dose oral dexamethasone is well tolerated by adults with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome and may have some efficacy.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Kameron Bechler ◽  
Kristina Shkirkova ◽  
Jeffrey L. Saver ◽  
Sidney Starkman ◽  
Scott Hamilton ◽  
...  

Background. Cardiac adverse events are common among patients presenting with acute stroke and contribute to overall morbidity and mortality. Prophylactic measures for the reduction of cardiac adverse events in hospitalized stroke patients have not been well understood. We sought to investigate the effect of early initiation of high-dose intravenous magnesium sulfate on cardiac adverse events in stroke patients. Methods. This is a secondary analysis of the prehospital Field Administration of Stroke Therapy-Magnesium (FAST-MAG) randomized phase-3 clinical trial, conducted from 2005-2013. Consecutive patients with suspected acute stroke and a serum magnesium level within 72 hours of enrollment were selected. Twenty grams of magnesium sulfate or placebo was administered in the ambulance starting with a 15-minute loading dose intravenous infusion followed by a 24-hour maintenance infusion in the hospital. Results. Among 1126 patients included in the analysis of this study, 809 (71.8%) patients had ischemic stroke, 277 (24.6%) had hemorrhagic stroke, and 39 (3.5%) with stroke mimics. The mean age was 69.5 (SD13.4) and 42% were female. 565 (50.2%) received magnesium treatment, and 561 (49.8%) received placebo. 254 (22.6%) patients achieved the target, and 872 (77.4%) did not achieve the target, regardless of their treatment group. Among 1126 patients, 159 (14.1%) had at least one CAE. Treatment with magnesium was not associated with fewer cardiac adverse events. A multivariate binary logistic regression for predictors of CAEs showed a positive association of older age and frequency of CAEs (R=1.04, 95% CI 1.03-1.06, p<0.0001). Measures of early and 90-day outcomes did not differ significantly between the magnesium and placebo groups among patients who had CAEs. Conclusion. Treatment of acute stroke patients with magnesium did not result in a reduction in the number or severity of cardiac serious adverse events.


2020 ◽  
pp. 107815522096979
Author(s):  
Jade L Hefler ◽  
Lauren M Bailey ◽  
Cynthia El Rahi ◽  
Amy C Schefler ◽  
Eric H Bernicker

Background Immunotherapy with checkpoint inhibitors has demonstrated durable responses and remarkable antitumor effects in a variety of cancers. Although these agents are generally well-tolerated, patients can experience immune-related adverse events (irAEs) that require prompt recognition by healthcare providers. Immune-related ocular toxicities are rare, but serious adverse events have been reported with the use of checkpoint inhibitors. Case presentation: Here, we describe a rare case of panuveitis during Nivolumab and Ipilimumab combination treatment in a patient being treated for recurrent Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC). The patient was managed with an injection of Ozurdex (Allergan, Madison, NJ), a dexamethasone intravitreal implant. The patient had a resolution of inflammation and an improvement in her vision and was able to resume nivolumab monotherapy without recurrence of the panuveitis. Conclusion This case highlights the importance of early recognition of ocular irAEs by ocular oncologists and the successful approach to treatment of immunotherapy-induced panuveitis in order to avoid permanent cessation of therapy.


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