Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis presumably unmasked by PD-1 inhibition

Pembrolizumab-induced asthma exacerbation with hypereosinophilia and elevated interleukin-5 in endometrial cancer: A case report

Pembrolizumab is an anti-programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) antibody used to treat various cancer types. Treatments with such immune checkpoint inhibitors cause immune-related adverse events. However, airway inflammation caused by immune-related adverse events has rarely been reported. A 54-year-old woman with endometrial cancer experienced asthma exacerbation, and increased blood eosinophil counts 3 months after pembrolizumab administration. Although asthma exacerbation improved, the resumption of pembrolizumab caused the recurrence of dry cough and hypereosinophilia. The discontinuation of pembrolizumab improved her symptoms. Serum interleukin-5 levels increased during pembrolizumab treatment but decreased upon discontinuation. The blockade of PD-1 and its ligand may exacerbate asthma through eosinophilic inflammation.

Airway disorders associated with immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy: Two case reports and a systematic review

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) are widely used for the treatment of various malignant neoplasms. Interstitial lung disease is a well-known immune-related adverse event, however, ICI-induced airway disease remains under-recognized. Herein, we report two similar cases of pembrolizumab-induced tracheobronchitis presenting as persistent chronic cough and dyspnea. Blood tests revealed elevated C-reactive protein levels without eosinophilia. Spirometry demonstrated mild airflow obstruction. Computed tomography revealed diffuse thickening of the tracheobronchial walls and bronchiectasis predominantly in the lower lobes. Bronchoscopy revealed edematous and erythematous tracheobronchial mucosa, and bronchial biopsy tissue exhibited marked inflammation with predominant infiltration of CD8+ lymphocytes. Subsequently, pembrolizumab-induced tracheobronchitis was diagnosed in both cases. Cessation of pembrolizumab and initiation of erythromycin, inhaled corticosteroids, and long-acting beta-agonists gradually improved the symptoms, airflow obstruction, and radiographic findings. These were completely resolved in one case. The other case initially showed a poor response to systemic corticosteroids combined with the aforementioned drugs, but improved gradually and almost completely. These cases exemplify ICI-induced airway disease that is, an under-recognized manifestation of immune-related adverse events. In addition, we have systematically searched the PubMed database for articles on ICI-induced airway disease, categorized the retrieved articles as eosinophilic and non-eosinophilic airway diseases, and reviewed the differences in treatment and prognoses between these two categories.

Successful management of severe bronchial asthma exacerbated by anti-PD-L1 treatment: A report of two cases

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have been used for various carcinomas. However, immune-related adverse events have been observed. There have been few reports of treatment with biologics for severe bronchial asthma induced by ICI; therefore, their efficacy is unknown. We report two cases of severe bronchial asthma requiring systemic steroid administration while using anti-programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) antibody for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. The anti-interleukin-5 antibody, mepolizumab, was introduced, resulting in the discontinuation of systemic prednisolone and good asthma control. These reports suggest that treatment with biologics may be effective in severe cases of poorly controlled bronchial asthma during ICI therapy.

Invasive Fungal Diseases in Children with Hematological Malignancies Treated with Therapies That Target Cell Surface Antigens: Monoclonal Antibodies, Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors and CAR T-Cell Therapies

Since 1985 when the first agent targeting antigens on the surface of lymphocytes was approved (muromonab-CD3), a multitude of such therapies have been used in children with hematologic malignancies. A detailed literature review until January 2021 was conducted regarding pediatric patient populations treated with agents that target CD2 (alefacept), CD3 (bispecific T-cell engager [BiTE] blinatumomab), CD19 (denintuzumab mafodotin, B43, BiTEs blinatumomab and DT2219ARL, the immunotoxin combotox, and chimeric antigen receptor [CAR] T-cell therapies tisagenlecleucel and axicabtagene ciloleucel), CD20 (rituximab and biosimilars, 90Y-ibritumomab tiuxetan, ofatumumab, and obinutuzumab), CD22 (epratuzumab, inotuzumab ozogamicin, moxetumomab pasudotox, BiTE DT2219ARL, and the immunotoxin combotox), CD25 (basiliximab and inolimomab), CD30 (brentuximab vedotin and iratumumab), CD33 (gemtuzumab ozogamicin), CD38 (daratumumab and isatuximab), CD52 (alemtuzumab), CD66b (90Y-labelled BW 250/183), CD248 (ontuxizumab) and immune checkpoint inhibitors against CTLA-4 (CD152; abatacept, ipilimumab and tremelimumab) or with PD-1/PD-L1 blockade (CD279/CD274; atezolizumab, avelumab, camrelizumab, durvalumab, nivolumab and pembrolizumab). The aim of this narrative review is to describe treatment-related invasive fungal diseases (IFDs) of each category of agents. IFDs are very common in patients under blinatumomab, inotuzumab ozogamicin, basiliximab, gemtuzumab ozogamicin, alemtuzumab, and tisagenlecleucel and uncommon in patients treated with moxetumomab pasudotox, brentuximab vedotin, abatacept, ipilimumab, pembrolizumab and avelumab. Although this new era of precision medicine shows promising outcomes of targeted therapies in children with leukemia or lymphoma, the results of this review stress the necessity for ongoing surveillance and suggest the need for antifungal prophylaxis in cases where IFDs are very common complications.

Programmed cell death-1 blockade in kidney carcinoma may induce eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis: a case report

Background

Immune checkpoint inhibitors have potential applications in treating various cancers but are associated with immune-related adverse events, such as inflammation, in a wide range of organs; however, allergic inflammation caused by these agents has not been extensively studied.

Case presentation

A 65-year-old man was diagnosed with a kidney neuroendocrine carcinoma. Three months after kidney resection surgery, the tumor cells had metastasized to his liver and lymph nodes. Subsequently, the patient started chemotherapy; however, regardless of treatment, the tumor grew, and the patient experienced a series of adverse effects, such as taste disorder, anorexia, and general fatigue. Finally, he was administered a programmed cell death (PD)-1 inhibitor, nivolumab (biweekly, toal 200 mg/body), which was effective against kidney carcinoma. However, the patient had a bronchial asthma attack at 22 cycles of nivolumab treatment and chest computed tomography (CT) revealed an abnormal bilateral shadow after 37 cycles of nivolumab treatment. Bronchoscopy findings revealed eosinophil infiltration in the lungs along with severe alveolar hemorrhage. Paranasal sinus CT scanning indicated sinusitis and nerve conduction analysis indicated a decrease in his right ulnar nerve conduction velocity. Based on these findings, the patient was diagnosed with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis; he was treated with prednisolone, which alleviated his bronchial asthma. To restart nivolumab treatment, the dose of prednisolone was gradually tapered, and the patient was administered a monthly dose of mepolizumab and biweekly dose of nivolumab. To date, there have been no bronchial attacks or CT scan abnormalities upon follow up.

Conclusions

We present a rare case in which a patient with cancer was diagnosed with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis following treatment with a PD-1 inhibitor. Blockade of PD-1 and the programmed cell death ligand (PD-L) 1/PD-1 and PD-L2/PD-1 signaling cascade may cause allergic inflammation. Further studies are needed to identify the specific mechanisms underlying allergic inflammation after PD-1 blockade.

Fungal Infections Associated With the Use of Novel Immunotherapeutic Agents

Purpose of the Review

Recent concerns have emerged regarding the potential of immunotherapy to cause infection. In this review, we summarize the current literature on invasive fungal infections that occur during treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors and chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy.

Recent Findings

Fungal infections are uncommon with the use of checkpoint inhibitors. Most cases are caused by invasive aspergillosis and pneumocystis pneumonia and occur in patients requiring high dose corticosteroids for the management of immune-related adverse events. Conversely, fungal infections are commonly reported during therapy with CAR T cells. Most cases are caused by invasive aspergillosis and candidiasis and are likely the result of prolonged neutropenia following the conditioning regimen or immunosuppressant use for the management of cytokine release syndrome and neurotoxicity.

Summary

Treatment-related toxicities that require prolonged immunosuppressive agents appear to play a key role in the development of fungal infections during immunotherapy. Ongoing surveillance is needed to fully address the risks of fungal infections with these novel agents.

The blockade of PD-1/PD-L1 pathway promotes the apoptosis of CD19+ CD25+ Bregs and suppresses the secretion of IL-10 in patients with allergic rhinitis

PD-1/PD-L1 pathway is crucial to immune regulation by controlling the balance between T cell tolerance and activation. However, the association between PD-1/PD-L1 pathway and regulatory B cells has not been fully investigated in allergic rhinitis. In this study, we detected the number of peripheral CD19⁺ CD25⁺ Bregs and the expression of IL-10 on this cell subset in healthy control and patients with allergic rhinitis using flow cytometry. Then, we evaluated the level of PD-L1 in CD19⁺ CD25⁺ Bregs and investigated the correlation between PD-L1 and CD4⁺ follicular T helper cells. Finally, we studied the effects of anti-PD-L1 on the apoptosis of Bregs and the production of IL-10. Comparing with healthy controls, the percentage of CD19⁺ CD25⁺ Bregs and the expression of IL-10 were both significantly decreased in AR group. In addition, the expression of PD-L1 on CD19⁺ CD25⁺ Bregs was also lower in allergic rhinitis patients. Interestingly, a negative correlation was found between the expression of PD-L1⁺ Bregs and CD4⁺ CXCR5⁺ follicular T helper cells. In vitro assay revealed that anti-PD-L1 promoted Bregs apoptosis and inhibited the expression of IL-10 in CD19⁺ CD25⁺ Bregs. Collectively, these results suggest that PD-L1 expressed on CD19⁺ CD25⁺ Bregs may be a potential regulator in the treatment of allergic rhinitis. Blockade of PD-1/PD-L1 pathway might be a valuable pathogenic target for allergic rhinitis through inhibiting the secretion of immunosuppressive cytokine and promoting CD19⁺ CD25⁺ Bregs apoptosis.