scholarly journals Neurosarcoidosis following Immune Checkpoint Inhibition

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 521-526 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anastasie M. Dunn-Pirio ◽  
Suma Shah ◽  
Christopher Eckstein

Recently, immune checkpoint inhibitors have revolutionized cancer care by enhancing anti-tumor immunity. However, by virtue of stimulating the immune system, they can lead to immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Neurologic irAEs are uncommon but are becoming increasingly recognized and can be quite serious or even fatal. Furthermore, central nervous system (CNS) manifestations may be difficult to distinguish from CNS metastases, posing management challenges. Here, we describe a patient who developed exacerbation of sarcoidosis leading to CNS involvement following dual checkpoint blockade with nivolumab and ipilimumab for metastatic melanoma and review the relevant literature.

2017 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
pp. 117693511771252 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sherif M El-Refai ◽  
Joshua D Brown ◽  
Esther P Black ◽  
Jeffery C Talbert

Purpose: Immune checkpoint inhibition reactivates the immune response against cancer cells in multiple tissue types and has been shown to induce durable responses. However, for patients with autoimmune disorders, their conditions can worsen with this reactivation. We sought to identify, among patients with lung and renal cancer, how many harbor a comorbid autoimmune condition and may be at risk of worsening their condition while on immune checkpoint inhibitors such as nivolumab and pembrolizumab. Methods: An administrative health care claims database, Truven MarketScan, was used to identify patients diagnosed with lung and renal cancer from 2010 to 2013. We assessed patients for diagnosis of autoimmune diseases 1 year prior to or after diagnosis of cancer using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes for 41 autoimmune diseases. Baseline characteristics and other comorbid conditions were recorded. Results: More than 25% of patients with both lung and renal cancer had a comorbid autoimmune condition between 2010 and 2013 and were more likely to be women, older, and have more baseline comorbidities. Conclusions: This population presents a dilemma to physicians when deciding to treat with immune checkpoint inhibitors and risk immune-related adverse events. Future evaluation of real-world use of immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with cancer with autoimmune diseases will be needed.


2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 487-491 ◽  
Author(s):  
Georgios Fragulidis ◽  
Eirini Pantiora ◽  
Vasiliki Michalaki ◽  
Elissaios Kontis ◽  
Elias Primetis ◽  
...  

Immune checkpoint inhibition therapy using targeted monoclonal antibodies is a new therapeutic approach with significant survival benefit for patients with several cancer types. However, their use can be associated with unique immune-related adverse effects as a consequence of impaired self-tolerance due to loss of T-cell inhibition via a nonselective activation of the immune system. Nivolumab is an anti-PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitor that was recently developed for cancer immunotherapy with remarkable responses in nonsmall cell lung cancer patients. We present a 62-year-old Caucasian male with recurrent lung adenocarcinoma and currently under third-line therapy with nivolumab, who was admitted in our hospital with abdominal distension. Radiologic findings were consistent with small bowel ileus. After four days of conservative treatment, the patient underwent exploratory laparotomy where no cause of ileus was discovered. Postoperative the ileus persisted and considering that an adverse effect of the immune checkpoint inhibition therapy occurred, the patient received high-dose prednisone resulting in gradual improvement of symptoms. Immune checkpoint inhibitors may induce adverse effects to unaffected organ systems and tissues including the skin, gastrointestinal, hepatic, pulmonary, and endocrine system. The mainstay treatment consists of immunosuppression with corticosteroids in the majority of cases. As the clinical use of immune checkpoint inhibitors is expanding rapidly, there is an emergence of unique immune-related adverse effects in a growing patient population. Gaining early awareness is essential in these patients in order to ensure prompt diagnosis and management.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcos C. B. Oliveira ◽  
Marcelo H. de Brito ◽  
Mateus M. Simabukuro

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) are a novel class of antineoplastic treatment that enhances immunity against tumors. They are associated with immune adverse events, and several neurological syndromes have been described, including multiple sclerosis and atypical demyelination. We performed a systematic literature review of case reports with neurological immune adverse events that presented with central nervous system demyelination, up to December 2019. We found 23 cases: seven with myelitis, four isolated optic neuritis, one neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder, five multiple sclerosis, and six with atypical demyelination. Ipilimumab was the most frequently used ICI (11/23). The median time to develop symptoms from the onset of ICI was 6.5 weeks [range 1.0–43.0], and from last ICI dose was 14 days [range 0–161]. Anatomopathological examination was performed in four cases, with the finding of a T-cell mediated immune response. Outcomes were generally favorable after immunosuppression: 18 patients had improvement or a full recovery, three patients did not respond to treatment, three patients died, and in one, treatment was not reported. We describe the patients' clinical presentation, treatment administered, and outcomes. We further speculate on possible pathophysiological mechanisms and discuss potential treatments that may be worth investigating.


2020 ◽  
Vol 91 (7) ◽  
pp. 772-778 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alberto Vogrig ◽  
Sergio Muñiz-Castrillo ◽  
Bastien Joubert ◽  
Geraldine Picard ◽  
Veronique Rogemond ◽  
...  

ObjectiveTo describe the spectrum and outcome of central nervous system complications associated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (CNS-ICI).MethodsPatients with CNS-ICI were identified and their characteristics compared with ICI-related peripheral neuropathy (PN-ICI).ResultsWe identified 19 patients with CNS-ICI. The patients were receiving nivolumab (n=8), pembrolizumab (n=6), a combination of ipilimumab-nivolumab (n=3), ipilimumab-durvalumab (n=1), or atezolizumab (n=1). Underlying malignancies included non-small-cell lung cancer (n=8), melanoma (n=3), and other less common tumours (n=8). Neurological phenotypes were limbic encephalitis (n=8), meningoencephalitis (n=4) and cerebellitis (n=4). Two patients developed isolated confusion and one parkinsonism. Associated autoantibodies included onconeural (Ma2, n=7; Hu, n=1), astrocytic (glial fibrillar acidic protein, n=2) and neuronal surface (contactin-associated protein-like 2, n=1) specificities. ICIs were withheld and corticosteroid treatment was given in all cases. Five patients received intravenous immunoglobulin, two rituximab, one plasmapheresis and one infliximab. Overall, six patients died. Readministration of ICI was attempted in three patients, without further relapses. Non-small-cell lung cancer was significantly more frequent in patients with CNS-ICI (p<0.01), while melanoma and ipilimumab treatment were more common in PN-ICI (p<0.01 and p=0.01). Conversely, CNS-ICI cases were more frequently antibody-positive than PN-ICI (p<0.01) and showed a strong trend towards poorer outcome (p=0.053).ConclusionThree main clinical phenotypes characterise CNS complications of ICIs, each with distinct immunological background, disease course and response to treatment. Other clinical manifestations (including parkinsonism and steroid-responsive confusion) are also possible. Underlying cancers, antibody prevalence and outcome appear different from those of patients with PN-ICI.


2021 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felipe Fanine de Souza ◽  
Julia Petry Trevisani ◽  
Letícia Caroline Breis ◽  
Luís Gustavo Marcelino Sizenando ◽  
Marco Antônio Machado Schlindwein ◽  
...  

: New therapies and alternatives for the containment of tumor progression are being proposed for the treatment of cancer. In this context, monoclonal therapies using immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) come as a therapeutic proposal. They are responsible for immunological control by blocking PD-1, PD-L1 and CTLA-4 molecules. However, among the effects caused by therapy, the use of medications is associated with neurological diseases reported as an adverse effect, affecting the central nervous system (CNS) and causing a wide range of symptoms. In this regard, the present bibliographic review presents the main CNS disorders associated with this therapy, in addition to the incidence, symptoms and treatment of these diseases.


2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (7) ◽  
pp. 1005-1008 ◽  
Author(s):  
João Durães ◽  
Inês Coutinho ◽  
Angelina Mariano ◽  
Argemiro Geraldo ◽  
Maria Carmo Macário

Immune checkpoint inhibitors are used in metastatic melanoma with good efficacy and safety profile. We report the first case of an inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system during treatment with Pembrolizumab and discuss the evidence in the literature supporting its causative role. The patient had a good clinical recovery after intravenous steroids, plasma exchange and discontinuation of Pembrolizumab. Due to the expected increase in the importance of immune checkpoint inhibitors in cancer treatment, it is important to be aware of neurological adverse events, as early treatment usually leads to good clinical responses.


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