Pathogenesis, Clinical Manifestations and Management of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors Toxicity

2017 ◽  
Vol 103 (5) ◽  
pp. 405-421 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandro Inno ◽  
Giulio Metro ◽  
Paolo Bironzo ◽  
Antonio M. Grimaldi ◽  
Elisabetta Grego ◽  
...  

Immune checkpoint inhibitors have emerged as an effective treatment for several tumor types and their use in clinical practice is expected to further increase in the immediate future. Although these agents are well tolerated, they are associated with a peculiar spectrum of toxicity, which is immune mediated and may potentially affect every organ. However, immune-related adverse events are mostly reversible if promptly diagnosed and adequately treated. Therefore, it is crucial that medical oncologists know how to diagnose and treat immune-related adverse events. This review focuses on the pathogenesis, clinical manifestations and management of immune-related toxicity of anti-CTLA-4 and anti-PD-1 antibodies.

2020 ◽  
pp. 16-24
Author(s):  
D. I. Yudin ◽  
K. K. Laktionov ◽  
K. A. Sarantseva ◽  
O. I. Borisova ◽  
V. V. Breder ◽  
...  

Recently immune checkpoint inhibitors amazingly changed the landscape of cancer therapy worldwide. The number of immune checkpoint molecules in clinical practice is constantly increasing. There are some monoclonal antibodies recently registered in the Russian Federation: anti-PD1 antibodies (nivolumab, pembrolizumab), anti-PD-L1 (atezolizumab, durvalumab), anti-CTLA-4 (ipilimumab). Immune-mediated endocrinopathies are some of the most common complications of immunotherapy. According to the results of clinical studies, the incidence of serious endocrine immuno-mediated adverse events with anti-PD1 monoclonal antibodies is low (3.5–8%). The use of anti-CTLA4 antibodies, combined regimens, and the use of immunotherapy after chemoradiotherapy significantly increase the incidence of serious adverse events to 30%. In clinical practice of N.N. Blokhin Cancer Research Center among 245 non-small cell lung cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma patients treated with immunotherapy, 22 (8,9%) developed an immune-mediated endocrinopathy. Most patients developed adverse events of 1–2 degrees, in two patients – 3 degrees, requiring discontinuation of treatment. The aim of this article was to provide useful information and recommendations regarding the management of common immuno-related endocrine adverse events (including hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, pituitary, adrenal insufficiency) for clinical oncologists.


2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 319-326
Author(s):  
Marina A. Lyadova ◽  
Vladimir K. Lyadov

Immune-mediated adverse events (imAEs) are complications of therapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors, which arise as a result of autoimmune inflammation. The article summarizes systemic (fatigue, fever), cutaneous (rash, itching), gastrointestinal (diarrhea, colitis, hepatitis, pancreatic dysfunction), endocrinological (hypothyroidism, hypophysitis, adrenal insufficiency, diabetes mellitus), pulmonary (pneumonitis, pleuritis), rheumatological (arthralgia), neurological (headache, sensory and motor disorders), renal (acute interstitial nephritis, lupus-like nephritis, granulomatous nephritis, diffuse interstitial nephritis and minimal change disease), hematological (anemia, cytopenia), cardiovascular (myocarditis) and ocular (conjunctivitis, episcleritis, ceratitis, blepharitis and uveitis) imAE. Pathogenetic mechanisms and treatment approaches (in accordance with toxicity grade and clinical recommendations) are discussed. Early symptom recognition, patient education and timely intervention are crucial for imAE correction.


Author(s):  
Adrian Tsui, PharmD ◽  
Linday Edmondson, PharmD, BCOP ◽  
Justin Julius, PharmD

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have gained prominence for the treatment of a variety of malignancies. However, they are associated with the development of immune-mediated adverse events (IMAEs). Appropriate management of IMAEs and subsequent rechallenging of patients with ICI therapy remains an important area of research. The primary endpoint of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of current prescribing practices and adherence to guideline recommendations for IMAE management. The incidence of symptom resolution, number of patients reinitiated with ICI therapy, and IMAE recurrence upon ICI therapy reinitiation were explored as secondary endpoints. A retrospective chart review within the Allegheny Health Network was conducted in cancer patients treated with ICI therapy who developed a documented ICI-associated IMAE and subsequently received corticosteroid therapy. IRB approval was obtained for this study. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze both primary and secondary endpoints. The study sample was made up of 81 patients. Overall, 50 out of 81 patient cases (62%) were found to be discordant with guideline recommendations; the primary factors identified were inappropriate starting corticosteroid dosing (64%), initiation of a corticosteroid taper prior to IMAE resolution to at least grade 1 severity, and condensed corticosteroid taper (74%). The main IMAEs identified were colitis (28%), pneumonitis (27%), and skin-related inflammation (12%). 76 out of the 81 patients (94%) achieved IMAE resolution; 41 patients (54%) were rechallenged with ICI therapy, of which 14 patients (34%) developed IMAE recurrence. Future studies may focus on evaluating different immunosuppression strategies to optimize IMAE management.


2016 ◽  
pp. 68-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. V. Reutova ◽  
K. P. Laktionov ◽  
V. V. Breder ◽  
K. A. Sarantseva ◽  
M. A. Okruzhnova ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 647-654 ◽  
Author(s):  
Morgan E Gwynn ◽  
David L DeRemer ◽  
Katherine M Saunders ◽  
Jigarkumar Parikh ◽  
Roni J Bollag ◽  
...  

Objectives The emergence of immune checkpoint inhibitors has transformed treatment paradigms for various malignancies. Patients with cancer are at increased risk of complications and hospitalizations from influenza; therefore, it is recommended that they receive inactivated influenza vaccination. However, efficacy and safety of inactivated influenza vaccination in patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors is uncertain. The objective of this prospective case series was to evaluate the incidence of immune-mediated adverse events (imAEs) following inactivated influenza vaccination in patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors. Changes in cytokine and chemokine levels were also evaluated. Methods Patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors during the 2017–2018 influenza season were eligible for study participation. Peripheral blood samples were collected prior to administration of inactivated influenza vaccine and two post-vaccination time points. Evaluation of new or worsening imAEs occurred via patient questionnaire and review of medical records for 60 days following inactivated influenza vaccination. Baseline imAEs were evaluated from review of medical records for 60 days prior to inactivated influenza vaccination. Serum cytokines and chemokines were measured using a multiplex Luminex assay. Results Twenty-four patients were enrolled in this study. Seven patients experienced any grade imAE (one patient having 2) within 60 days following inactivated influenza vaccination. The majority were Grades 1–2, including rash ( n = 3), hypothyroidism, myalgia, and colitis ( n = 1 each). Two patients experienced severe imAEs (grade 3 nephritis and grade 4 diabetes). No significant changes ( p > 0.05) in serum cytokine or chemokine concentrations were observed. Conclusions Although small, our study suggests that inactivated influenza vaccine may be safely administered to patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors. The majority of imAEs following inactivated influenza vaccination were Grades 1-2 and did not require changes in immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy.


Biomolecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 785
Author(s):  
Roberta Esposito ◽  
Teresa Fedele ◽  
Silvia Orefice ◽  
Vittoria Cuomo ◽  
Maria Prastaro ◽  
...  

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are monoclonal antibodies that activate the immune system, aiming at enhancing antitumor immunity. ICIs have shown great promise in the treatment of several advanced malignancies. However, therapy with these immunomodulatory antibodies may lead to a wide spectrum of immune-related adverse events in any organ and any tissue. Cardiologic immune-related events include pericarditis, pericardial effusion, various types of arrhythmias including the occurrence of complete atrioventricular block, myocardial infarction, heart failure, and myocarditis. Although relatively rare, myocarditis is associated with a very high reported mortality in comparison to other adverse events. Myocarditis often presents significant diagnostic complexity and may be under-recognized. When confronted with an unexpected change in the clinical picture, the physician must differentiate between immune-related adverse events, cancer worsening, or other causes unrelated to the cancer or its therapy. However, this is not always easy. Therefore, with the increasing use of checkpoint inhibitors in cancer, all providers who care for patients with cancer should be made aware of this rare, but potentially fatal, cardiologic immune-related adverse event, and able to recognize when prompt consultation with a cardiologist specialist is indicated. In this review, we evaluate currently available scientific evidence and discuss clinical manifestations and new potential approaches to the diagnosis and therapy of acute myocarditis induced by ICIs. Temporary or permanent discontinuation of the ICIs and high-dose steroids have been administered to treat myocarditis, but symptoms may worsen in some patients despite therapy.


2021 ◽  
Vol 135 (5) ◽  
pp. 703-724
Author(s):  
Alan H. Baik ◽  
Katy K. Tsai ◽  
David Y. Oh ◽  
Mandar A. Aras

Abstract Immunotherapies have greatly expanded the armamentarium of cancer-directed therapies in the past decade, allowing the immune system to recognize and fight cancer. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), in particular, have revolutionized cancer treatment and have demonstrated survival benefit in numerous types of cancer. These monoclonal antibodies increase anti-cancer immunity by blocking down-regulators of adaptive immunity, including cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4), programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1), and its ligand (PD-L1), resulting in anti-tumor activity. As ICIs increase immune system activation, they can cause a wide range of inflammatory side effects, termed immune-released adverse events. Though these toxicities can affect nearly any organ, the most fatal toxicity is myocarditis. Here, we discuss the diverse spectrum of cardiovascular toxicities associated with ICI use. In addition, we provide insight and future directions on mechanisms and treatments for immune-related adverse events (irAEs) involving the myocardium, pericardium, vasculature, and conduction system.


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