Encephalitis Induced by Durvalumab During Treatment of Metastatic Small-Cell Lung Cancer: Illustrative Case and Review of the Literature. Issue 7 (September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shechtman, Yelena; Shalata, Walid; Khoury, Rasha; Mahajna, Ayed; Weller, Boaz; Agbarya, Abed
• Is Part Of: Journal of immunotherapy. Volume 44:Issue 7(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-09
• Subjects: small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) -- metastatic disease -- Imfinzi (Durvalumab) -- encephalitis -- immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICIs); Immunotherapy -- Periodicals; Immunotherapy -- Periodicals; Neoplasms -- therapy -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; Electronic journals; 615.37
• DOI: 10.1097/CJI.0000000000000362
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1524-9557

Abstract

Abstract : The immune checkpoint inhibitors have improved the standards of care in cancer treatment and have dramatically improved patient prognoses. These new antibodies turned to be an integral part of the standard of care for metastatic small-cell lung cancer. Platinum-based chemotherapy combined with checkpoint inhibitors, resulted in statistically significant improvement of progression free survival and overall survival. Immune checkpoint inhibitors immune-related adverse events have been observed and reported as a consequence of administering these innovative treatment drugs. Neurological immune-related adverse events are rare complications; however, they can be potentially fatal, particularly encephalitis. This report describes a 66-year-old female who received Durvalumab for metastatic small-cell lung cancer. Following 3 cycles of treatment, she developed encephalitis.