Severe inflammatory myopathy in a pulmonary carcinoma patient treated with Pembrolizumab: An alert for myologists

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 511-514
Author(s):  
L. Peverelli ◽  
A. De Rosa ◽  
E. Domina ◽  
P. Ciscato ◽  
G. Sita ◽  
...  

Immune-related adverse events (irAE) during the administration of immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) become more evident due to the increased use of these therapies. To remind the importance of early recognition of this phenomenon, we report a paradigmatic case characterized by severe systemic inflammatory myopathy and severe cardiac involvement that abruptly precipitated in an untoward ending after one single dose of Pembrolizumab.

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 ◽  
pp. 030089162095346
Author(s):  
Nilay Sengul Samanci ◽  
Duygu Ilke Cikman ◽  
Kerem Oruc ◽  
Sahin Bedir ◽  
Emir Çelik ◽  
...  

Introduction: With the widespread use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), we are facing challenges in the management of immune-related adverse events (irAEs). We aimed to characterize the spectrum of toxicity, management, and outcomes for irAEs. Methods: Patients who were treated with at least one ICI in clinical trials, expanded access programs, or routine clinical practice were included. Clinical and laboratory parameters were collected retrospectively to determine the incidence of irAEs, methods of management, and treatment outcomes. Results: A total of 255 patients were screened retrospectively. Of these, 71 (27.8%) patients developed irAEs. More than 2 different types of irAEs were detected in 16 (6.2%) out of 255 patients. A total of 3177 doses were given to 255 patients. In 93 (2.9%) of the 3177 doses, 1 episode of irAEs was experienced. A total of 22 out of 93 (23.7%) episodes were reported as grade 1, 49 (52.7%) as grade 2, 19 (20.4%) as grade 3, and 3 (3.2%) as grade 4. The most frequently seen irAEs were pneumonitis, hepatitis, and hypothyroidism. With regard to treatment, 39 out of 93 episodes (42%) of any grade irAEs occurred after anti–programmed cell death-1 therapy, 47 (50.5%) occurred following administration of anti–programmed death-ligand 1, and 7 (7.5%) occurred after combination treatments. Conclusion: With the increased use of immunotherapeutic agents, increased awareness and early recognition are required for effective management of irAEs. Our experience as a single institution might be of use for health care providers in oncology.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mami Ishibashi ◽  
Yoshihiro Ishida ◽  
Atsushi Otsuka ◽  
Shuji Yamamoto ◽  
Kenji Kabashima

Immune-related adverse events (irAEs) are commonly observed in patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI), and prompt diagnosis and treatment of irAEs is of utmost importance. Gastrointestinal (GI) events are among the most frequent irAEs and the hallmark symptom is diarrhea. Intestinal hypomotility as irAEs is exceedingly rare, and needs wider recognition given that the presentation is insidious.Here, we report a case of 79-year-old woman with metastatic melanoma under nivolumab and ipilimumab combination therapy. She developed ileus symptom, and was diagnosed with acute colonic pseudo-obstruction. The symptom relieved soon after administering high-dose prednisolone five days after the onset. ICI therapy was discontinued.Intestinal hypomotility as GI irAEs is exceedingly rare and there have been five reported cases to our knowledge. In reviewing past cases, we speculate that the prompt initiation of corticosteroids resulted in a favorable outcome. Our case illustrates that early recognition of these rare irAEs is essential in order to ensure prompt treatment.


2021 ◽  
pp. e2021155
Author(s):  
Zoe Apalla ◽  
Chryssoula Papageorgiou ◽  
Aimilios Lallas ◽  
Florentina Delli ◽  
Christina Fotiadou ◽  
...  

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (CPIs) are targeted molecules that modulate the immune system, assist with self-tolerance, and minimize collateral tissue damage when immune responses are activated. Although they are characterized by a favorable risk/benefit ratio, immune checkpoint blockade has been associated with a new subset of autoimmune-like toxicities, named immune-related adverse events (irAE). Dermatologic reactions are among the most prevalent irAE triggered by CPIs. In a majority of cases they are self-limiting and readily manageable. However, it is not uncommon that they result in severe skin involvement and impairment of patients’ quality of life. Awareness of the spectrum of cutaneous irAEs is mandatory for every clinician involved in the management of oncologic patients. The role of the dermatologists is essential because early recognition and appropriate management of skin toxicity may prevent dose modifications and discontinuation of CPIs. The latter is particularly relevant, considering that recent data suggest favorable oncologic response in patients developing irAEs.  


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.


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