Eosinophilic Vasculitis and Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy Associated With Anti-PD-L1 Therapy

A scoping review of vasculitis as an immune-related adverse event from checkpoint inhibitor therapy of cancer: Unraveling the complexities at the intersection of immunology and vascular pathology

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

Vasculitis as an immune-related adverse event (irAE) from checkpoint inhibitor therapy (ICI) to treat cancer is a rare clinical event, and little is known regarding its nosology, clinical manifestations, or response to treatment and outcomes.

METHODS

To address these gaps, we used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systemic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) framework to further define this complication. Two independent PUBMED searches in September and November of 2022 revealed 127 publications with 37 excluded from title by relevance, 43 excluded by article type, and 23 excluded due to lack of biopsy results, or biopsy negative for vasculitis. Twenty-nine documented cases from 24 publications were included for final analysis. Basic demographics, ICI details, timing of onset of vasculitis symptoms, irAE treatment and outcomes were collected. The vasculitides were classified using 2022 ACR/EULAR Vasculitis Classification Criteria as well as 2012 Revised Chapel-Hill Nomenclature. Adaptations from Naidoo et al. 2023 [1] consensus definitions for irAEs were used and efforts were made to classify steroid-responsive versus unresponsive irAEs.

RESULTS

Of the 29 cases reviewed, the average age of patients was 62.1 ± 11.0, composed of 58.6 % (n = 17) male and 41.3 % (n = 12) female. Prominent cancer types were lung cancer (41.4 %; n = 12), melanoma (41.4 %; n = 12), and renal cancer (10.3 %; n = 3), with majority being stage 4 (75.9 %, n = 22) and stage 3 (10.3 %, n = 3). Only 8 cases met the ACR/EULAR criteria, and by Chapel-Hill Nomenclature, approximately a third were small-vessel vasculitis (31.0 %; n = 9) with n = 4 positive for ANCA. Most biopsies were taken from the skin (37.9 %, n = 11) and kidney (24.1 %, n = 7). Patients were either treated with single (65.5 %, n = 19), dual (17.2 %; n = 5), or sequential (17.2 %; n = 5) ICI regimen which included anti-PD-1 therapy in all but one case, with mean of 8.7 ± 10.5 cycles received. Mean time to onset of symptoms from start of ICI was 7.2 ± 7.8 months, with 55.2 % occurring >3 months since the initial immunotherapy. Vasculitis treatment included glucocorticoids in 96 % of cases and immunotherapy was often discontinued (44.8 %; n = 13). Clinical improvement of irAE was documented in 86.2 % (n = 25). Data were missing in terms of fate of ICI (34.5 %; n = 10) and tumor outcomes (41.4 %; n = 12). Cancer progressed in 20.7 % (n = 6), stable in 34.5 % (n = 10) cases, and 6 patients died of all-causes.

CONCLUSION

Vasculitis as an irAE appears clinically heterogeneous and rare. Among reported cases with adequate documentation, vasculitis is of delayed onset following the initiation of immunotherapy. Outcomes of ICI-vasculitis were generally favorable, responding to glucocorticoids and immunotherapy withdrawal. There is an urgent need for more standardized reporting of rare irAEs such as vasculitis to clarify clinical risks, classification, relationship to immunotherapy and outcomes.

The occurrence of asthma in an extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer patient after combination therapy with atezolizumab and anlotinib: a case report

Background

Extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) is highly malignant, with early metastasis and high recurrence. Since therapeutic options are limited, ES-SCLC has a characteristically short survival period and extremely poor prognosis. A combination of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and anti-angiogenic drugs can achieve promising efficacy and safety in patients with ES-SCLC as a second-line or subsequent treatment, extending survival to some extent. However, the clinical outcomes remain mostly unsatisfactory and are sometimes affected by treatment-related adverse events.

Case presentation

A 57-year-old woman with ES-SCLC was administered a combination therapy of atezolizumab (a PD-L1 inhibitor) and anlotinib [an oral multi-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)]. She survived for 22 months, with no disease progression during the 28 courses of therapy. Unexpectedly, despite having no history of asthma, the patient developed asthma while receiving this regimen. This is possibly related to T-cell activation and the tumor immune microenvironment, which induce allergic inflammation after PD-L1 blockade.

Conclusions

This is the first report of an asthma-negative ES-SCLC patient who developed asthma after receiving atezolizumab plus anlotinib. Although this combination therapy may effectively extend survival in SCLC patients, asthmatic symptoms should be closely monitored.

Ocular toxicities associated with antibody drug conjugates and immunotherapy in oncology: clinical presentation, pathogenesis, and management strategies

INTRODUCTION

The development of molecularly targeted anticancer therapies and immunotherapy continues to revolutionize the treatment of cancer. FDA accelerated approvals of novel targeted therapies allowed for introduction of these agents into the clinic at a rapid rate. On-and off-target ocular toxicities are prevalent treatment-related adverse events of newer therapies including antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) and immunotherapy. Ocular toxicities associated with ADCs and immunotherapy have heterogeneous presentations and pathogenesis requiring unique and often complex monitoring, and management.

AREAS COVERED

In this article, we provide an updated review of treatment-emergent ocular toxicity associated with new and novel oncologic therapies and summarize guidelines and best practice strategies for prevention, monitoring and management. A literature search was performed through PubMed, ClinicalTrials.gov, and FDA website (1 January 2017 to 10 May 2023) to identify relevant information.

EXPERT OPINION

The implementation of a strategy for monitoring, prevention, and management of treatment-related ocular toxicities involves a multi-disciplinary, often cross-center approach. Communication with infusion nursing leadership, clinic staff, and eye care providers is crucial to the successful implementation of eye care plans to prevent and manage ocular toxicity.

Immunotherapy in Elderly Patients Affected by Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Narrative Review

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for approximately 80% of all lung cancers, and most NSCLC is diagnosed in the advanced stage. The advent of immune check point inhibitors (ICIs) changed the therapeutic scenario both in metastatic disease (in first and subsequent lines) and earlier settings. Comorbidities, reduced organ function, cognitive deterioration, and social impairment give reasons for a greater probability of adverse events, making the treatment of elderly patients challenging. The reduced toxicity of ICIs compared to standard chemotherapy makes this approach attractive in this population. The effectiveness of ICIs varies according to age, and patients older than 75 years may benefit less than younger patients. This may be related to the so-called immunosenescence, a phenomenon that refers to the reduced activity of immunity with older age. Elders are often under-represented in clinical trials, even if they are a large part of the patients in a clinical practice. In this review, we aim to explore the biological aspects of immunosenescence and to report and analyze the most relevant and recent literature findings on the role of immunotherapy in elderly patients with NSCLC.