scholarly journals Tumor Microenvironment in Oral Cancer Following Neoadjuvant Pembrolizumab: Preliminary Analysis of the Histopathologic Findings

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex Dobriyan ◽  
Iris Gluck ◽  
Eran Alon ◽  
Iris Barshack ◽  
Ran Yahalom ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tumor Microenvironment ◽  
T Regulatory Cells ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Death Receptor ◽  
Complete Response ◽  
The Other ◽  
Initial Stage ◽  
Programmed Death ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
Bony Involvement

Background: The tumor microenvironment (TME) of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is associated with immune suppression, one of the pathways being the programmed death receptor 1 (PD-1) and its ligands (PD-L1/PD-L2). Checkpoint inhibitors of PD-1/PD-L1, like pembrolizumab, have been recently approved for treatment of OSCC. We described the histologic findings in OSCC following neoadjuvant pembrolizumab, including identification of immune-related cell populations and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs).Materials and Methods: Patients with OSCC clinical stages 3 and 4 and a combined PD-L1 score >1 were randomized either to the standard oncologic protocol or to the pembrolizumab arm of MK-3475-689 study for Head and Neck, Lip, and Oral Cavity. The latter were given two standard doses of 200 mg of pembrolizumab, 3 weeks apart, and then underwent surgical oncologic procedure according to the initial stage. Sections from the resection specimens were analyzed for pathological response to pembrolizumab. Various populations of immune-related cells within the tumor microenvironment were characterized by immunohistochemistry, as were the CAFs.Results: Three patients who were randomized to the pembrolizumab study were described. One patient presented with a tongue SCC, the other two had SCC of the mandibular ridge with bony involvement. Only the patient with tongue SCC showed clinical complete response. Microscopically, the tumor was replaced by a granulomatous type of inflammation. Immunohistochemical stains revealed massive T cell rich (CD3+) infiltrate, with approximately equal amounts of CD4+ and CD8+ cells, numerous macrophages of CD68+ and CD163+ phenotypes; no CAFs were identified. The other two patients were regarded as non-responders as at least 50% of the tumor was viable. The tumor microenvironment of these tumors was generally associated with a lesser extent of inflammatory response compared to the tongue tumor, a variable CD4+/CD8+ ratio and presence of CAFs. Neither T regulatory cells (FOXP3+) nor natural killer cells (CD56+, CD57+) were identified in any of the cases.Conclusion: We showed that characterizing the specific populations of immune-related cells and CAFs after treatment with pembrolizumab, may add to our understanding of the tumor-TME interactions in this setting. These findings should be investigated in future studies on a larger number of patients.

scholarly journals Predictive biomarkers of inhibitors immune checkpoints therapy in malignant tumors

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 73-83
Author(s):  
M. V. Kiselevsky ◽  
I. V. Samoylenko ◽  
O. V. Zharkova ◽  
N. V. Ziganshina ◽  
A. A. Petkevich ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Malignant Tumors ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Death Receptor ◽  
Predictive Biomarkers ◽  
Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes ◽  
Immune Checkpoints ◽  
Russian Science ◽  
Programmed Death ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
Russian Science Citation Index

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICT) therapy is a successful immunotherapy (IT) strategy that is quite effective in a number of patients with non-small cell lung cancer, melanoma, bladder cancer, breast cancer and others. Nevertheless, there is a need in predictive markers for ICT therapy for personalized IT as far as there is a large group of patients, the proportion of which varies depending on the tumor, who do not have a clinical response to such therapy. The review summarizes the theoretical aspects and results of clinical trials dedicated to various clinical efficiency predictor using modern databases. As a result of the analysis it is established that the main candidates for the role of such markers are tumor infiltrating lymphocytes and their subpopulations, peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) and their subpopulations. PD1 (programmed death receptor 1) and PDL1 (programmed death receptor ligand 1) expression in tumor tissue can also be important for predicting IT efficiency. The most promising predictive biomarker meaning the most clinically relevant is a combination of the PBL subpopulations study and PD1 and PDL1 expression on the tumor cells.PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, eLibrary, Russian Science Citation Index databases were searched for the available appropriate literature reports. The authors included 82 in the given review.

scholarly journals Expanded human NK cells from lung cancer patients sensitize patients’ PDL1−negative tumors to PD1-blockade therapy

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. e001933
Author(s):  
Sophie M Poznanski ◽  
Tyrah M Ritchie ◽  
Isabella Y Fan ◽  
Abdullah El-Sayes ◽  
Ana L Portillo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Tumor Microenvironment ◽  
Nk Cells ◽  
Tumor Regression ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Combined Treatment ◽  
Death Receptor ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Advanced Lung Cancer ◽  
Pd1 Blockade

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death worldwide despite the significant progress made by immune checkpoint inhibitors, including programmed death receptor-1 (PD1)/PD ligand 1 (PDL1)-blockade therapy. PD1/PDL1−blockade has achieved unprecedented tumor regression in some patients with advanced lung cancer. However, the majority of patients fail to respond to PD1/PDL1 inhibitors. The high rate of therapy non-response results from insufficient PDL1 expression on most patients’ tumors and the presence of further immunosuppressive mechanisms in the tumor microenvironment. Here, we sensitize non-responding tumors from patients with lung cancer to PD1-blockade therapy using highly cytotoxic expanded natural killer (NK) cells. We uncover that NK cells expanded from patients with lung cancer dismantle the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment by maintaining strong antitumor activity against both PDL1+ and PDL1− patient tumors. In the process, through a contact-independent mechanism involving interferon γ, expanded NK cells rescued tumor killing by exhausted endogenous TILs and upregulated the tumor proportion score of PDL1 across patient tumors. In contrast, unexpanded NK cells, which are susceptible to tumor-induced immunosuppression, had no effect on tumor PDL1. As a result, combined treatment of expanded NK cells and PD1-blockade resulted in robust synergistic tumor destruction of initially non-responding patient tumors. Thus, expanded NK cells may overcome the critical roadblocks to extending the prodigious benefits of PD1-blockade therapy to more patients with lung cancer and other tumor types.

scholarly journals Immune-Related Pancytopenia Induced by Anti-PD-1 Therapy – Interrupt or Continue Treatment – The Role of Immunohistochemical Examination

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 820-828 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bożena Cybulska-Stopa ◽  
Andrzej Gruchała ◽  
Maciej Niemiec
Keyword(s):  
Bone Marrow ◽  
Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Death Receptor ◽  
Positive Outcomes ◽  
Hematological Disorders ◽  
Therapeutic Outcomes ◽  
Appropriate Treatment ◽  
Programmed Death

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), including anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (anti-CTLA-4) and anti-programmed death receptor-1/ligand-1 (anti-PD-1/anti-PD-L1) caused a breakthrough in oncology and significantly improved therapeutic outcomes in cancer patients. ICIs generate a specific reaction in T cells, directed against antigens on cancer cells, leading to their damage and death. Through similar or the same antigens, activated lymphocytes may also have a cytotoxic effect on healthy cells, causing development of specific adverse effects – so-called immune-related adverse events (irAEs). We present the case report of a 56 year old patient with disseminated melanoma. During treatment with immunotherapy (anti PD-1), neutropenic fever and pancytopenia occurred. Trepanobiopsy of the bone marrow was performed to determine the cause of pancytopenia. Histopathological assessment of bone marrow combined with immunophenotype investigations may explain the cause of hematological disorders occurring in the course of treatment with ICIs, and support the choice of an appropriate treatment, directly translated into positive outcomes.

Behcet’s-like syndrome following pembrolizumab: An immune-related adverse event associated with programmed death receptor-1 inhibitor therapy

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 995-999 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steffi Thomas ◽  
Chay Bae ◽  
Tabanor Joy-Ann ◽  
William Traverse
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Events ◽  
Metastatic Melanoma ◽  
Immune Checkpoint ◽  
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Death Receptor ◽  
Programmed Death ◽  
Organ Systems ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Right

Introduction The landscape for the treatment of metastatic melanoma has been revolutionized with the introduction immune checkpoint inhibitors. Immune checkpoint inhibitors have now become the standard of care for the treatment of cancers. These immune agents including programmed death receptor-1 inhibitors, programmed death-ligand 1 inhibitors and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 inhibitors have shown promising results but have been associated with numerous immune-related complications. Pembrolizumab, a programmed death receptor-1 inhibitor, has been associated with a number of immune-related adverse events affecting multiple organ systems including integument, ocular, endocrine, cardiovascular, pulmonary, renal, gastrointestinal, and musculoskeletal system. Case report We present a case of an 88-year-old Caucasian male with metastatic melanoma of the face with metastasis to the right fifth cranial nerve and into the right cavernous sinus. He underwent resection of the melanoma and was placed on pembrolizumab at 2 mg/kg every three weeks. Interestingly, 24 months on pembrolizumab therapy, he developed corneal erosions, oral and genital ulcerations. Management and outcome Patient completed his 24 months of pembrolizumab and was started on prednisone and colchicine with improvement in his symptoms. At his follow-up eight months, he had recurrence of an oral ulcer. Discussion Here we present a rare case of an elderly male on pembrolizumab who suffered from corneal erosions, oral and genital ulcers, a syndrome similar to Behcet’s disease. Given that pembrolizumab and other immune checkpoint inhibitors are being utilized in the treatment of cancers, physicians should be aware of the wide range immune-related adverse events including the possible Behcet’s-like syndrome presentation.

Immunotherapy discontinuation and outcome: A multicenter real-life experience.

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e14075-e14075
Author(s):  
Maria Bassanelli ◽  
Diana Giannarelli ◽  
Maria RITA Migliorino ◽  
Marco Russano ◽  
Alain Gelibter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Advanced Cancer ◽  
Progressive Disease ◽  
Life Experience ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Progression Free Survival ◽  
Complete Response ◽  
Response To Treatment ◽  
Best Response ◽  
Programmed Death

e14075 Background: Unlike chemotherapy, the optimum treatment duration with Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) is not clearly established. The aim of this study was to assess the outcome of patients (pts) who discontinued immune-based therapies for any reason except progressive disease. Methods: We conducted an observational, retrospective analysis of 46 consecutive pts with advanced cancer who received ICIs as clinically indicated, at eight Italian institutions. Tumor response to treatment was defined according to RECIST. Median overall survival (OS) and the 95% confidence interval (CI) were estimated with the Kaplan -Meier method. Results: 46 pts (median age 68 years [range 41-86]; male: 65.2%) with advanced cancer (n.39 non-small-cell lung cancer, n.15 renal cell carcinoma and n.2 melanoma) were treated with ICIs: 44 pts received programmed death 1 (PD-1) inhibitors (n.31 nivolumab, n.13 pembrolizumab) and 2 pts programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) (n.1 durvalumab, n.1 atezolizumab). A median of 8 cycles were administered [range 1 to 52]. 36 pts discontinued ICIs due to toxicities (diarrhoea, pneumonitis, hepatotoxicity) and 10 pts for reasons non immune-related. The median progression free survival (PFS) from the beginning of ICIs was 12.4 months (mo) [95% CI: 8.2-16.6] and the median OS was 20.0 mo (95% CI: 11.8-28.2). Median PFS from discontinuation of therapy was 5.0 mo [95% CI: 2.7-7.3] and median OS was 16.1 mo (95% CI: 5.4-26.8). Best response achieved according RECIST criteria were: 1 complete response (CR), 18 partial response, 21 stable disease (SD), 2 progressive disease (PR) and 3 non evaluable (NE). During interruption of ICIs 1 pts achieved a PR. Conclusions: This study shows the activity of ICIs, in terms of outcome and durable immune-response, in pts with advanced cancer even after treatment discontinuation.

scholarly journals Pembrolizumab-Induced Immune-Mediated Colitis in a Patient with Concurrent Clostridium Difficile Infection

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 164-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheng Zhou ◽  
Yael Klionsky ◽  
Michelle E. Treasure ◽  
Debora S. Bruno
Keyword(s):  
Clostridium Difficile ◽  
Clostridium Difficile Infection ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Death Receptor ◽  
Appropriate Treatment ◽  
Immune Mediated ◽  
Programmed Death ◽  
Timely Fashion ◽  
Infectious Etiology ◽  
Severe Colitis

Pembrolizumab is a programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) inhibitor that has been approved for treatment of a wide variety of malignancies. Immune-mediated colitis is a known but uncommon adverse effect of pembrolizumab. Symptoms of immune-mediated colitis can be similar to those of many other gastrointestinal illnesses, including Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). If not recognized and treated in a timely fashion, immune-mediated colitis can lead to significant morbidity in cancer patients. We report the case of a 56-year-old woman on pembrolizumab for metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who presented with severe colitis symptoms and initially tested positive for CDI. Her colitis symptoms worsened despite appropriate treatment for CDI but later improved rapidly after systemic corticosteroid was started for suspected immune-mediated colitis. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of concurrent pembrolizumab-induced colitis and CDI. Immune-mediated colitis should be considered in the differential diagnoses in patients on pembrolizumab or other immune checkpoint inhibitors who present with colitis symptoms, even when a concurrent infectious etiology is suspected.

scholarly journals Nivolumab-induced adrenalitis

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. e231829 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iqra Iqbal ◽  
Muhammad Atique Alam Khan ◽  
Waqas Ullah ◽  
Dina Nabwani
Keyword(s):  
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Death Receptor ◽  
Small Cell ◽  
Second Line ◽  
Small Cell Lung ◽  
Programmed Death Ligand 1 ◽  
Programmed Death ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
Line Chemotherapy

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are an evolving class of drugs for the treatment of various cancers; for example, their use is recommended as a second-line chemotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer. With the expanding use of ICIs, we are discovering their unique side effects, called immune-related adverse events (irAEs), which can impair gastrointestinal, hepatic, dermatological, endocrine and other systems. Nivolumab is an ICI that blocks the human programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) on T cells to prevent the interaction between the receptor, PD-1, and human programmed death ligand-1 expressed on tumour cells. Here, we report a case of a 65-year-old woman with recurrent lung adenocarcinoma who was treated with nivolumab and developed immune-related adrenalitis, which was managed with hydrocortisone and fludrocortisone. This case highlights the importance of understanding the irAEs of ICIs to allow prompt recognition and management of life-threatening complications of the treatment.

scholarly journals Understanding Inflammasomes and PD-1/PD-L1 Crosstalk to Improve Cancer Treatment Efficiency

Cancers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 3550
Author(s):  
Anaïs Perrichet ◽  
François Ghiringhelli ◽  
Cédric Rébé
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Treatment ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Response To Treatment ◽  
Immune Checkpoints ◽  
Cancer Growth ◽  
Inflammasome Activation ◽  
Treatment Efficiency ◽  
Programmed Death ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
Programmed Death 1

Inflammasomes and immune checkpoints have been shown to participate in carcinogenesis, cancer growth and response to treatment. Thus, targeting cytokines resulting from inflammasome activation, such as interleukin (IL)-1β, has emerged as a new tool in the therapeutic arsenal. Moreover, the use of checkpoint inhibitors such as anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-L1 has revolutionized the treatment of some cancer patients. However, inflammasome activation and consecutive cytokine release only occurs in some chemotherapeutic treatments and immune checkpoint inhibitors only work for a restricted number of patients, thus limiting the use of therapies targeting these pathways. Expanding knowledge about the inefficiency of these therapies recently brought forward the hypothesis of targeting both pathways. In this review, we provide an overview of the crosstalk between inflammasomes and programmed death-1 (PD-1)/programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) that might explain how these two pathways are mutually dependent, and perhaps why targeting only one of them leads to inefficiency of cancer treatment in some patients.

scholarly journals Targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 Pathway in Renal Cell Carcinoma

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (7) ◽  
pp. 1692 ◽  
Author(s):  
Solène-Florence Kammerer-Jacquet ◽  
Antoine Deleuze ◽  
Judikaël Saout ◽  
Romain Mathieu ◽  
Brigitte Laguerre ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Renal Cell Carcinoma ◽  
Cell Carcinoma ◽  
Renal Cell ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Death Receptor ◽  
Programmed Death ◽  
Pathologic Features ◽  
Death Receptor Ligand ◽  
Antiangiogenic Drugs

Renal cell carcinoma encompass distinct diseases with different pathologic features and distinct molecular pathways. Immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting the programmed death receptor ligand 1 (PD-L1) / programmed death receptor 1 (PD-1) pathway alone or in combination have greatly changed clinical management of metastatic renal cell carcinoma, now competing with antiangiogenic drugs in monotherapy for first-line treatment. However, long-term response rates are low, and biomarkers are needed to predict treatment response. Quantification of PD-L1 expression by immunohistochemistry was developed as a promising biomarker in clinical trials, but with many limitations (different antibodies, tumour heterogeneity, specimens, and different thresholds of positivity). Other biomarkers, including tumour mutational burden and molecular signatures, are also developed and discussed in this review.

scholarly journals Discontinuation of BRAF/MEK-Directed Targeted Therapy after Complete Remission of Metastatic Melanoma—A Retrospective Multicenter ADOReg Study

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 2312
Author(s):  
Henner Stege ◽  
Maximilian Haist ◽  
Michael Schultheis ◽  
Maria Isabel Fleischer ◽  
Peter Mohr ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Targeted Therapy ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Patient Characteristics ◽  
Complete Response ◽  
Second Line ◽  
Treatment Cessation ◽  
Durable Response ◽  
Ongoing Treatment ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
The Impact

The advent of BRAF/MEK inhibitors (BRAFi/MEKi) has significantly improved progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) for patients with advanced BRAF-V600-mutant melanoma. Long-term survivors have been identified particularly among patients with a complete response (CR) to BRAF/MEK-directed targeted therapy (TT). However, it remains unclear which patients who achieved a CR maintain a durable response and whether treatment cessation might be a safe option in these patients. Therefore, this study investigated the impact of treatment cessation on the clinical course of patients with a CR upon BRAF/MEK-directed-TT. We retrospectively selected patients with BRAF-V600-mutant advanced non-resectable melanoma who had been treated with BRAFi ± MEKi therapy and achieved a CR upon treatment out of the multicentric skin cancer registry ADOReg. Data on baseline patient characteristics, duration of TT, treatment cessation, tumor progression (TP) and response to second-line treatments were collected and analyzed. Of 461 patients who received BRAF/MEK-directed TT 37 achieved a CR. TP after initial CR was observed in 22 patients (60%) mainly affecting patients who discontinued TT (n = 22/26), whereas all patients with ongoing TT (n = 11) maintained their CR. Accordingly, patients who discontinued TT had a higher risk of TP compared to patients with ongoing treatment (p < 0.001). However, our data also show that patients who received TT for more than 16 months and who discontinued TT for other reasons than TP or toxicity did not have a shorter PFS compared to patients with ongoing treatment. Response rates to second-line treatment being initiated in 21 patients, varied between 27% for immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) and 60% for BRAFi/MEKi rechallenge. In summary, we identified a considerable number of patients who achieved a CR upon BRAF/MEK-directed TT in this contemporary real-world cohort of patients with BRAF-V600-mutant melanoma. Sustained PFS was not restricted to ongoing TT but was also found in patients who discontinued TT.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document