Persistent anti-tumor response in cancer patients experiencing pneumonitis related to immune checkpoint blockade. Issue 2 (4th March 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Belcaid, Laila; Garaud, Soizic; Kerger, Joseph; Spyridon, Sideris; Aspeslagh, Sandrine
• Is Part Of: Acta clinica belgica. Volume 76:Issue 2(2021)
• Page Start: 144
• Page End: 148
• Publication Date: 2021-03-04
• Subjects: Pneumonitis -- persistent anti-tumor response -- immune checkpoint blockade -- urothelial carcinoma -- melanoma; Clinical medicine -- Periodicals; Diagnosis, Laboratory -- Periodicals; 616.005
• DOI: 10.1080/17843286.2019.1664051
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1784-3286

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Background: Immunotherapy in the form of immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) is now well established as acornerstone for treating many advanced malignancies. Nevertheless, as the number of indications for checkpoint inhibitors increases, so does the risk of immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Methods: We report two patient cases who, after being treated by an anti-programmed cell death 1 (PD-1), presented with grade III dyspnea due to pneumonitis. Discussion: Immunotherapy was discontinued and the patients required treatment with systemic corticosteroids. At the time of writing, both patients are still in complete response (CR), more than 1year beyond immunotherapy discontinuation. We discuss our cases with regard to recent literature reports on immune-related pneumonitis and persistence of response beyond discontinuation. Graphical abstract: Radio thorax of our first patient Bibasal pulmonary parenchymal infiltrates/consolidation with associated right pleural effusion. No mass, no pulmonary nodule, no enlarged hilum is observed.