Hyperprogression after first dose of immunotherapy in a patient with radioresistant metastasis from nonsmall cell lung cancer

Intersection of immune and oncometabolic pathways drives cancer hyperprogression during immunotherapy

Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) can produce durable responses against cancer. We and others have found that a subset of patients experiences paradoxical rapid cancer progression during immunotherapy. It is poorly understood how tumors can accelerate their progression during ICB. In some preclinical models, ICB causes hyperprogressive disease (HPD). While immune exclusion drives resistance to ICB, counterintuitively, patients with HPD and complete response (CR) following ICB manifest comparable levels of tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells and interferon γ (IFNγ) gene signature. Interestingly, patients with HPD but not CR exhibit elevated tumoral fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) and β-catenin signaling. In animal models, T cell-derived IFNγ promotes tumor FGF2 signaling, thereby suppressing PKM2 activity and decreasing NAD+, resulting in reduction of SIRT1-mediated β-catenin deacetylation and enhanced β-catenin acetylation, consequently reprograming tumor stemness. Targeting the IFNγ-PKM2-β-catenin axis prevents HPD in preclinical models. Thus, the crosstalk of core immunogenic, metabolic, and oncogenic pathways via the IFNγ-PKM2-β-catenin cascade underlies ICB-associated HPD.

Hyperprogressive disease in patients suffering from solid malignancies treated by immune checkpoint inhibitors: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction

Hyperprogressive disease (HPD) is a paradoxically rapid disease progression during or shortly after antitumor treatment, especially immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Various diagnosis criteria of HPD cause heterogeneous incidence rates in different clinical research, and there is no consensus on potential risk factors associated with HPD occurrence. Hence, we aimed to summarize incidence of HPD in ICI treatment for solid tumors. Clinicopathological factors associated with HPD are also analyzed.

Methods

Clinical studies about HPD during/after ICI treatment of solid malignancies are included. Pubmed, Embase, and Cochrane library were searched for eligible studies published before October 7. The Newcastle–Ottawa scale was used to assess the quality of the included studies. Random effect and fixed effect models were, respectively, used for pooling incidence of HPD and analysis of risk factors for HPD. Heterogeneity, subgroup analysis, and publication bias were also analyzed. All meta-analysis was performed via R software (y -40v4.0.2).

Results

Forty-one studies with 6009 patients were included. The pooled incidence of HPD was 13.2% (95% CI, 11.2%–15.4%). Head and neck cancer (HNC) had the highest incidence of HPD (18.06%), and melanoma had the lowest (9.9%). Tumor types (P = .0248) and gender ratio (P = .0116) are sources of heterogeneity of pooled incidence of HPD. For five clinicopathological factors associated with HPD, only programmed cell death protein 1 ligand 1 (PD-L1) positivity was a preventive factor (odds ratio = 0.61, P <.05). High lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level (OR = 1.51, P = .01), metastatic sites >2 (OR = 2.38, P <.0001), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Score ≥2 (OR = 1.47, P = .02), and liver metastasis (OR = 3.06, P <.0001) indicate higher risk of HPD.

Conclusions

The pooled incidence of HPD was less than 15%, and HNC had the highest incidence of HPD. LDH and PD-L1 are remarkable biomarkers for prediction of HPD in future medical practice.

A case of hyperprogressive disease following atezolizumab therapy for pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma with epidermal growth factor receptor mutation

A 66-year old man with non-smoking history was diagnosed with pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma of the right lower lobe. The carcinoma metastasized to the brain, lungs, pleura, and mediastinal lymph nodes. It was positive for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) L858R mutation, and tumor cells highly expressed programmed death-ligand 1(PD-L1). Atezolizumab was initiated as the fourth treatment. After three days, he developed cardiac tamponade and immediately underwent pericardial drainage. Computed tomography showed bilateral ground-glass opacity (GGO), significant worsening of multiple lung metastases, and increased size of metastatic lesions. Newly developed metastasis was noted in the lung, and the patient's respiratory condition rapidly deteriorated. He died of respiratory failure on day 13 after atezolizumab administration. The autopsy showed widespread metastasis in all lobes of the bilateral lungs, cardiac tamponade due to carcinomatous pericarditis, carcinomatous lymphangiopathy, and multiple lung metastases, which were thought to be comprehensively the cause of death. These symptoms suggested hyperprogressive disease (HPD). Hence, we report the first case of HPD following atezolizumab therapy for pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma with EGFR mutation.

Hyperprogressive disease after radiotherapy combined with anti-PD-1 therapy in renal cell carcinoma: a case report and review of the literature

Background

Studies have shown that immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have limited efficacy and can even increase tumour burden in short time periods. This is usually called hyperprogressive disease (HPD). To date, there are few reports regarding HPD; fewer have analysed the relationship between HPD and radiotherapy combined with ICIs, and their conclusions are controversial.

Case presentation

A 42-year-old woman was diagnosed with stage IV renal clear cell carcinoma. The patient had previously received sorafenib and pazopanib as first- and second-line therapies, respectively. She received radiotherapy combined with nivolumab. Eighteen days after administration of the third dose of nivolumab, the patient’s general condition deteriorated; this was associated with immune-related adverse events. Computed tomography showed that the diameter of left lung metastases had sharply increased. A biopsy of the lung metastasis showed no infiltration of lymphocytes. The patient’s general condition worsened and she died of the disease on the 70th day after administration of the third dose of nivolumab.

Conclusions

This report describes the development of HPD following the administration of radiotherapy combined with ICIs in a case of advanced renal cell carcinoma. The case indicates that radiotherapy may show bidirectional regulation effects on anti-tumour immune response. If the immunosuppressive function of radiotherapy is dominant, combined with ICIs, it could result in HPD.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12894-021-00813-8.