scholarly journals The Emerging Role of Checkpoint Inhibition in Microsatellite Stable Colorectal Cancer

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Hermel ◽  
Darren Sigal

Checkpoint inhibitor therapy has introduced a revolution in contemporary anticancer therapy. It has led to dramatic improvements in patient outcomes and has spawned tremendous research into novel immunomodulatory agents and combination therapy that has changed the trajectory of cancer care. However, clinical benefit in patients with colorectal cancer has been generally limited to tumors with loss of mismatch repair function and those with specific germline mutations in the DNA polymerase gene. Unfortunately, tumors with these specific mutator phenotypes are in the minority. Recent pre-clinical and clinical studies have begun to reveal encouraging results suggesting that checkpoint inhibitor therapy can be expanded to an increasing number of colorectal tumors with microsatellite stability and the absence of traditional predictive biomarkers of checkpoint inhibitor response. These studies generally rely on combinations of checkpoint inhibitors with chemotherapy, molecular targeted therapy, radiation therapy, or other novel immunomodulatory agents. This article will review the most current data in microsatellite stable colorectal cancer.

ESMO Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. e000597 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikki Burdett ◽  
Jayesh Desai

Immune checkpoint inhibitor blockade has vastly changed treatment paradigms and improved outcomes of many solid organ malignancies. The achievements of the last decade have transformed the outcomes of several tumour types, most notably metastatic melanoma. There are, however, still large numbers of patients who receive checkpoint inhibitor therapy and do not respond. In addition to potential lack of efficacy, checkpoint inhibitors also come with a unique and sometimes devastating side-effect profile. There exists a strong need for biomarkers to accurately predict response, improve treatment selection and avoid exposing patients to toxicity where there is minimal likelihood of response. There is a wide range of methodologies investigating predictive biomarkers in this space; in this review, we address the major putative biomarkers of interest. These include conventional serum tests such as lymphocyte indices and lactate dehydrogenase, and more novel research markers such as interleukin-6 and T receptor clonality. We discuss tumorous factors that may be of interest in certain tumour types, and finally gene expression profiling. Significant research continues into many of these potential predictive biomarkers in response to the emergent need to better select patients who will benefit from treatment.


2018 ◽  
Vol 38 (04) ◽  
pp. 366-378 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian Nadeau ◽  
Leslie Fecher ◽  
Scott Owens ◽  
Nataliya Razumilava

AbstractImmune checkpoint inhibition targeted against cytotoxic T-lymphocyte–associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) and programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) has shown clinically significant survival benefit when used to treat multiple types of advanced cancer. These drugs have gained approval by the US Food and Drug Administration and their indications continue to increase. Checkpoint inhibitor therapy is associated with a unique side-effect profile characterized as immune-related adverse events (irAEs), which can result in significant morbidity and rarely mortality. Hepatotoxicity from checkpoint inhibitors is a less common irAE and often mild, while its incidence and severity vary based on the class and dose of checkpoint inhibitor, monotherapy versus combination therapy, and the type of cancer. Histological assessment of suspected irAEs is nonspecific and can show a variety of features. Hepatic irAEs can require discontinuation of checkpoint inhibitor therapy and treatment with immunosuppressive agents.


Blood ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 128 (22) ◽  
pp. 4571-4571 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura K Schoch ◽  
Ivan Borrello ◽  
Ephraim J. Fuchs ◽  
Javier Bolanos-Meade ◽  
Jeffrey Sean Huo ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Concerns have been raised whether immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy in the alloBMT setting will result in graft versus host disease (GvHD) and transplant related mortality (TRM). We report our experience with a variety of checkpoint inhibitors used before or after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (alloBMT). Our series comprises patients who received T cell-replete hematopoietic stem cells from HLA-haploidentical or -matched donors and is limited to those treated with post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy) as primary GvHD prophylaxis. Patient selection: We retrospectively reviewed the records of alloBMT recipients who received PTCy and received checkpoint inhibitor therapy before or after alloBMT. GvHD was assessed using the CIBMTR GVHD index. Results: Eleven patients received checkpoint inhibitor therapy prior to alloBMT: anti-PD-1: Nivolumab n=6, anti-CTLA4: Ipilimumab n=8 (3 patients received both nivolumab and ipilimumab). These patients received a median of 4 (range 1 - 18) cycles of therapy. The median interval from last checkpoint inhibitor treatment to day of transplant was 43 (range 18-302) days. All patients received nonmyeloablative conditioning; 6 received partially mismatched allografts (5 were HLA haploidentical). Four patients developed Grade II aGvHD: Three patients who had received partially mismatched allografts (haplo-2, 9/10 unrelated-1) experienced stage 3 cutaneous GvHD only; one patient who received a 10/10 unrelated donor allograft developed stage 3 cutaneous GvHD with stage 1 liver involvement. Three patients were on immunosuppression when GvHD developed, the fourth patient with cutaneous and liver GvHD had been taken off tacrolimus on day 68 due to concerns of graft failure. GvHD resolved with treatment in each case. None of these patients developed chronic GvHD and none have died [median follow-up of 0.66 (range 0.91 - 2.0) years post alloBMT]. Nine patients received checkpoint therapy following alloBMT: anti-PD-1: Pembrolizumab n = 1, Nivolumab n= 6, anti-CTLA4: Ipilimumab n= 3 (one patient received nivolumab and ipilimumab). Eight patients had received nonmyeloablative conditioning; 5 received haploidentical allografts. Six received treatment for relapse of their hematologic malignancy, 1 for relapsed pediatric sarcoma, and 2 for newly diagnosed lung cancer. The median time to initiation of checkpoint inhibitor therapy was 1.2 (range: 0.8 - 5.8) years post alloBMT. Patients received a median of 5 (range 1 - 24) cycles of therapy. There was 1 case of Grade II aGvHD; stage 3 cutaneous GvHD when DLI from a 10/10 matched unrelated donor was given for relapsed disease after ipilimumab. This resulted in GvHD which was not accompanied by the desired graft-vs-leukemia effect. There were no other cases of acute or chronic GvHD in this group. There were 4 tumor-related deaths: pediatric sarcoma (1), lung cancer (1), and AML (2). The median follow-up for this group is 2 years (range 0.85 - 8.0) post alloBMT. Conclusions: In this small series, the incidence and severity of GvHD seen in patients who received checkpoint inhibitors was similar to that seen in patients treated with PTCy as GvHD prophylaxis without checkpoint inhibitors. GvHD was seen in patients treated with checkpoint inhibitors prior to alloBMT, but was generally mild and readily controlled and there were no associated deaths. In patients treated with checkpoint inhibitors after alloBMT, the only case of GvHD occurred after the patient received DLI. We caution that use of checkpoint inhibitors in closer temporal proximity to transplant might well be associated with increased risk of GvHD or severity of GvHD. Disclosures Borrello: WindMIL Therapeutics: Equity Ownership, Patents & Royalties, Research Funding; Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; BMS: Honoraria, Research Funding. Wagner-Johnston:Seattle Genetics: Research Funding. Smith:Celgene: Consultancy, Other: member of DSMB.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. e238235
Author(s):  
Kwang Kiat Sim ◽  
Katie Connell ◽  
Mayank Bhandari ◽  
David Paton

Peritoneal melanosis is an uncommon benign condition, the pathophysiology of which is unclear. Macroscopically, it appears as diffuse dark brown or black pigmentation within the peritoneum, mimicking more sinister conditions such as metastatic melanoma. It has been described in a variety of contexts, but only exceedingly rarely in association with metastatic melanoma, with only two previous published case reports. We present a case of peritoneal melanosis associated with metastatic melanoma involving the spleen, previously treated with targeted and immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy. With increasing reports of melanoma regression manifesting as cutaneous tumorous melanosis in patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors, we postulate that, similarly, immunotherapy and tumour regression might have a role to play in the pathogenesis of the peritoneal pigmentation in this case.


2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (6) ◽  
pp. 576-583 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamzah Abu-Sbeih ◽  
David M. Faleck ◽  
Biagio Ricciuti ◽  
Robin B. Mendelsohn ◽  
Abdul R. Naqash ◽  
...  

PURPOSE The risk of immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy–related GI adverse events in patients with cancer and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has not been well described. We characterized GI adverse events in patients with underlying IBD who received immune checkpoint inhibitors. PATIENTS AND METHODS We performed a multicenter, retrospective study of patients with documented IBD who received immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy between January 2010 and February 2019. Backward selection and multivariate logistic regression were conducted to assess risk of GI adverse events. RESULTS Of the 102 included patients, 17 received therapy targeting cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4, and 85 received monotherapy targeting programmed cell death 1 or its ligand. Half of the patients had Crohn’s disease, and half had ulcerative colitis. The median time from last active IBD episode to immunotherapy initiation was 5 years (interquartile range, 3-12 years). Forty-three patients were not receiving treatment of IBD. GI adverse events occurred in 42 patients (41%) after a median of 62 days (interquartile range, 33-123 days), a rate higher than that among similar patients without underlying IBD who were treated at centers participating in the study (11%; P < .001). GI events among patients with IBD included grade 3 or 4 diarrhea in 21 patients (21%). Four patients experienced colonic perforation, 2 of whom required surgery. No GI adverse event–related deaths were recorded. Anti–cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 therapy was associated with increased risk of GI adverse events on univariable but not multivariable analysis (odds ratio, 3.19; 95% CI, 1.8 to 9.48; P = .037; and odds ratio, 4.72; 95% CI, 0.95 to 23.53; P = .058, respectively). CONCLUSION Preexisting IBD increases the risk of severe GI adverse events in patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors.


2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (22) ◽  
pp. 2645-2656 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jarrett J Failing ◽  
Olivia A Dudek ◽  
Julian A Marin Acevedo ◽  
Razvan M Chirila ◽  
Haidong Dong ◽  
...  

Hyperprogression and pseudoprogression are two atypical responses to immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy that affect therapeutic decisions and prognosis. Identification of predictive biomarkers for atypical responses either before or during treatment remains a huge unmet need in cancer immunotherapy. Many studies have looked at potential biomarkers, including clinical factors and laboratory findings (e.g., peripheral blood counts, circulating tumor DNA, cytokine levels). The results of these studies have been inconsistent, possibly due to small sample sizes, different tumor types and heterogeneity of the definition of these atypical responses.


2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (12) ◽  
pp. 1692-1700 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harish Seethapathy ◽  
Sophia Zhao ◽  
Donald F. Chute ◽  
Leyre Zubiri ◽  
Yaa Oppong ◽  
...  

Background and objectivesImmune checkpoint inhibitor use in oncology is increasing rapidly. We sought to determine the frequency, severity, cause, and predictors of AKI in a real-world population receiving checkpoint inhibitors.Design, setting, participants, & measurementsWe included all patients who received checkpoint inhibitor therapy from May 2011 to December 2016 at Massachusetts General Hospital. Baseline serum creatinine, averaged 6 months before checkpoint inhibitor start date, was compared with all subsequent creatinine values within 12 months of starting therapy. AKI was defined by Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes criteria for fold changes in creatinine from baseline. Sustained AKI events lasted at least 3 days and was our primary outcome. The cause of sustained AKI was determined by chart review. Cumulative incidence and subdistribution hazard models were used to assess the relationship between baseline demographics, comorbidities, and medications, and sustained AKI and potential checkpoint inhibitor–related AKI.ResultsWe included 1016 patients in the analysis. Average age was 63 (SD 13) years, 61% were men, and 91% were white. Mean baseline creatinine was 0.9 mg/dl (SD 0.4 mg/dl), and 169 (17%) had CKD (eGFR<60 ml/min per 1.73 m2) at baseline. A total of 169 patients (17%) experienced AKI, defined by an increase in creatinine at least 1.5 times the baseline within 12 months; 82 patients (8%) experienced sustained AKI and 30 patients (3%) had potential checkpoint inhibitor–related AKI. The first episode of sustained AKI occurred, on average, 106 days (SD 85) after checkpoint inhibitor initiation. Sixteen (2%) patients experienced stage 3 sustained AKI and four patients required dialysis. Proton pump inhibitor use at baseline was associated with sustained AKI.ConclusionsAKI is common in patients receiving checkpoint inhibitor therapy. The causes of sustained AKI in this population are heterogenous and merit thorough evaluation. The role of PPI and other nephritis-inducing drugs in the development of sustained AKI needs to be better defined.


2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (8_suppl) ◽  
pp. 131-131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lia Head ◽  
Nicholas Gorden ◽  
Robert Van Gulick ◽  
Carol M. Amato ◽  
Ashley Frazer-Abel ◽  
...  

131 Background: Immune-related adverse events (IRAE) occur commonly with immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy for the treatment of cancer, although the specific event and severity can vary widely. Little is known regarding factors that may predict which patients will develop an IRAE. The goal of this study is to identify blood biomarkers predictive of IRAE associated with immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy. Methods: Blood samples collected from patients with melanoma prior to receiving therapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors were obtained from the University of Colorado Skin Cancer Biorepository. Testing for a panel of autoantibodies and cytokines (ANA, CCP 3.1, IL-1 beta, IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, IP-10, MCP-1, TNF alpha, IFN alpha 2, IFN gamma) in serum samples from patients who had at least one documented IRAE was performed by Exsera BioLabs. Descriptive statistics were used to evaluate biomarker levels in relation to type, grade, and number of adverse events. Results: Pre-treatment samples from 45 patients were evaluated. Median age was 55; 26 were male and 19 were female. The most common IRAEs were colitis (n = 22), thyroid dysfunction (n = 21), and dermatitis (n = 20). Most IRAEs were grade 2 in severity, and the majority of patients (n = 36) experienced more than 1 IRAE. TNF alpha was elevated in 60% of patient samples, while IFN alpha 2 was elevated in 44%. Borderline ANA was detected in 27% of samples and ANA was positive in 11%. No samples had elevation of IL-2. Between 9% and 18% of samples had elevation of the other immune markers tested (IFN gamma, IL-1 beta, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, and CCP 3.1). Elevation of TNF alpha and IFN alpha 2 were associated with higher grades of IRAEs. No associations between immune markers and the number or type of adverse events in an individual patient were noted. Results from 15 patients who did not have a documented IRAE on immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy are currently pending to confirm these findings are unique to patients developing IRAE. Conclusions: This preliminary data suggests that baseline elevations of TNF alpha and IFN alpha 2 may predict development of IRAEs with immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy. Results from samples from patients who did not develop an IRAE on therapy will be reported at the meeting.


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