Biological agents in gastrointestinal cancers: adverse effects and their management

Cancer therapy related cardiac dysfunction as a result of Panitumumab

Panitumumab is a human immunoglobulin monoclonal antibody designed to target the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) which is used in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer alone or in combination with chemotherapy. In this report, we present a case of new onset heart failure with reduced ejection fraction in a patient following panitumumab therapy. A 73-year-old gentleman with metastatic rectal adenocarcinoma presented to his local hospital with increased shortness of breath, two months after his first and only dose of panitumumab. A transthoracic echocardiogram demonstrated dilated left ventricle with global hypokinesis and an estimated left ventricular ejection fraction of 25%. Our patient underwent a comprehensive diagnostic assessment at his presentation, including ECG, transthoracic echocardiogram, cardiac magnetic resonance, computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA), invasive coronary angiogram and 18F-FDG PET-CT. These investigations revealed no evidence of ischemic events or inflammatory processes that could account for the severe left ventricular dysfunction. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction linked to panitumumab with subsequent deep phenotyping. The current guidelines do not recommend specific cardiovascular monitoring protocols for patients receiving anti-EGFR monoclonal antibodies. Until more data are available, it would be prudent to implement the same cardiovascular surveillance measures outlined for individuals receiving osimertinib, which is an EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor.

A comprehensive review on lipid nanocarrier systems for cancer treatment: fabrication, future prospects and clinical trials

Over the last few decades, cancer has been considered a clinical challenge, being among the leading causes of mortality all over the world. Although many treatment approaches have been developed for cancer, chemotherapy is still the most utilized in the clinical setting. However, the available chemotherapeutics-based treatments have several caveats including their lack of specificity, adverse effects as well as cancer relapse and metastasis which mainly explains the low survival rate of patients. Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have been utilized as promising nanocarrier systems for chemotherapeutics to overcome the challenges of the currently applied therapeutic strategies for cancer treatment. Loading chemotherapeutic agent(s) into LNPs improves drug delivery at different aspects including specific targeting of tumours, and enhancing the bioavailability of drugs at the tumour site through selective release of their payload, thus reducing their undesired side effects on healthy cells. This review article delineates an overview of the clinical challenges in many cancer treatments as well as depicts the role of LNPs in achieving optimal therapeutic outcomes. Moreover, the review contains a comprehensive description of the many LNPs categories used as nanocarriers in cancer treatment to date, as well as the potential of LNPs for future applications in other areas of medicine and research.

Exploring the Spectrum of VEGF Inhibitors' Toxicities from Systemic to Intra-Vitreal Usage in Medical Practice

The use of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor inhibitors (VEGFi) has become prevalent in the field of medicine, given the high incidence of various pathological conditions necessitating VEGF inhibition within the general population. These conditions encompass a range of advanced neoplasms, such as colorectal cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, renal cancer, ovarian cancer, and others, along with ocular diseases. The utilization of VEGFi is not without potential risks and adverse effects, requiring healthcare providers to be well-prepared for identification and management. VEGFi can be broadly categorized into two groups: antibodies or chimeric proteins that specifically target VEGF (bevacizumab, ramucirumab, aflibercept, ranibizumab, and brolucizumab) and non-selective and selective small molecules (sunitinib, sorafenib, cabozantinib, lenvatinib, regorafenib, etc.) designed to impede intracellular signaling of the VEGF receptor (RTKi, receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors). The presentation and mechanisms of adverse effects resulting from VEGFi depend primarily on this distinction and the route of drug administration (systemic or intra-vitreal). This review provides a thorough examination of the causes, recognition, management, and preventive strategies for VEGFi toxicities with the goal of offering support to oncologists in both clinical practice and the design of clinical trials.

Chemotherapy-induced bowel ischemia: diagnostic imaging overview

Cancer patients need multimodal therapies to treat their disease increasingly. In particular, drug treatment, as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or various associations between them are commonly used to increase efficacy. However, the use of drugs predisposes a percentage of patients to develop toxicity in multiple organs and systems. Principle chemotherapy drugs mechanism of action is cell replication inhibition, rapidly proliferating cells especially. Immunotherapy is another tumor therapy strategy based on antitumor immunity activation trough agents as CTLA4 inhibitors (ipilimumab) or PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors as nivolumab. If, on the one hand, all these agents inhibit tumor growth, on the other, they can cause various degrees toxicity in several organs, due to their specific mechanism of action. Particularly interesting are bowel toxicity, which can be clinically heterogeneous (pain, nausea, diarrhea, enterocolitis, pneumocolitis), up to severe consequences, such as ischemia, a rare occurrence. However, this event can occur both in vessels that supply intestine and in submucosa microvessels. We report drug-related intestinal vascular damage main characteristics, showing the radiological aspect of these alterations. Interpretation of imaging in oncologic patients has become progressively more complicated in the context of "target therapy" and thanks to the increasing number and types of therapies provided. Radiologists should know this variety of antiangiogenic treatments and immunotherapy regimens first because they can determine atypical features of tumor response and then also because of their eventual bowel toxicity.

Antibody drug conjugates in gastrointestinal cancer: From lab to clinical development

The antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are one the fastest growing biotherapeutics in oncology and are still in their infancy in gastrointestinal (GI) cancer for clinical applications to improve patient survival. The ADC based approach is developed with tumor specific antigen, antibody carrying cytotoxic agents to precisely target and deliver chemotherapeutics at the tumor site. To date, 11 ADCs have been approved by US-FDA, and more than 80 are in the clinical development phase for different oncological indications. However, The ADCs based therapies in GI cancers are still far from having high-efficient clinical outcomes. The limited success of these ADCs and lessons learned from the past are now being used to develop a newer generation of ADC against GI cancers. In this review, we did a comprehensive assessment of the key components of ADCs, including tumor marker, antibody, cytotoxic payload, and linkage strategy, with a focus on technical improvement and some future trends in the pipeline for clinical translation. The various preclinical and clinical ADCs used in gastrointestinal malignancies, their target, composition and bioconjugation, along with preclinical and clinical outcomes, are discussed. The emphasis is also given to new generation ADCs employing novel mAb, payload, linker, and bioconjugation methods are also included.

Systemic adverse effects and toxicities associated with immunotherapy: A review

Immunotherapy is rapidly evolving secondary to the advent of newer immunotherapeutic agents and increasing approval of the current agents by the United States Food and Drug Administration to treat a wide spectrum of cancers. Immunotherapeutic agents have gained immense popularity due to their tumor-specific action. Immunotherapy is slowly transforming into a separate therapeutic entity, and the fifth pillar of management for cancers alongside surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy. However, like any therapeutic entity it has its own adverse effects. With the increasing use of immuno-therapeutic agents, it is vital for physicians to acquaint themselves with these adverse effects. The aim of this review is to investigate the common systemic adverse effects and toxicities associated with the use of different classes of immunotherapeutic agents. We provide an overview of potential adverse effects and toxicities associated with different classes of immunotherapeutic agents organized by organ systems, as well as an extensive discussion of the current recommendations for treatment and clinical trial data. As we continue to see increasing usage of these agents in clinical practice, it is vital for physicians to familiarize themselves with these effects.

Gastrointestinal Adverse Effects of Immunotherapeutic Agents: A Systematic Review

The utilization of immunotherapy is increasing to the point of becoming the fifth pillar of management alongside surgical intervention, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and targeted therapy. However, gastrointestinal adverse effects and toxicities have been frequently cited with its use. As per literature, the most common adverse effect of immune checkpoint inhibitors is watery and non-bloody diarrhea. Adoptive cell therapy can lead to delayed, on-target but off-tumor adverse effects which are unknown and may be life-threatening. The use of anti-angiogenic monoclonal antibodies can lead to bowel perforations, whereas epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors and anti-HER2 agents are frequently associated with diarrhea. Minimal adverse effects have been associated with therapeutic cancer vaccines; however, additional studies are needed to determine their efficacy and potential toxicities. To provide an in-depth review of the gastrointestinal side effects of immunotherapeutic agents, we performed a thorough literature search using multiple online search engines such as PubMed, Google Scholar and Ovid MEDLINE, along with a review of the guidelines from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Cancer Research Institute on immunotherapy. In this systematic review, we detail the gastrointestinal adverse effects of immunotherapy and describe their management. With the advent of newer immunotherapeutic agents and the consistent approval of current agents by FDA for a wide spectrum of cancers, it is vital for physicians to familiarize themselves with their adverse effects for prompt diagnosis and early intervention to decrease adverse outcomes.

Mobile Mitral and Aortic Valvular Masses in Patients With Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia Receiving Intravenous Bevacizumab

Bevacizumab is now an emerging treatment option for severe hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia–related bleeding including epistaxis and gastrointestinal tract bleeding. The impact of long-term intravenous bevacizumab therapy on cardiac structure and function is unknown. We describe 3 patients receiving intravenous bevacizumab therapy for severe hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia–related bleeding who were found to have abnormal mobile masses on the mitral valve (n=2) and aortic valve (n=1). The clinical impact of these findings is unknown and requires further study.

Nivolumab-induced small bowel obstruction and perforation: a rare but life-threatening side effect of immunotherapy

We present a case of a 58-year-old female with anti-PD-1 immunotherapy-related small bowel perforation. The patient was on long-term therapy with nivolumab for metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. She presented to the emergency department with acute abdominal pain, in which the CT revealed a short segment of dilated distal ileum proximal to a very short segment of bowel with mural thickening and a perforation near the transition point. The patient underwent subsequent laparotomy, which confirmed the CT findings and revealed a short-segment of friable and dilated loop of distal ileum proximal to a stricture and a small perforation at the transition point. Pathological analysis revealed mural thickening at the site of stricture without evidence of malignancy with focal necrosis and perforation at the transition point. Bowel perforation in the setting of anti-PD-1 immunotherapy is rare, but life-threatening complication, and should be considered in oncology patients on immunotherapy presenting with severe abdominal pain.

18th Annual Meeting of the Safety Pharmacology Society: drug safety assessment on gastrointestinal system functions

Introduction: The 18^th Annual Meeting of the Safety Pharmacology Society included a session dedicated to the assessment of drug safety on the gastrointestinal (GI) system.Areas covered: GI anatomy, physiology, adverse effects (AEs) of chemical and biological therapies, and approaches to mitigate them.Expert opinion: GI AEs, albeit common and generally of minor intensity, may prolong clinical development time and reduce patient compliance.

Ramucirumab: the long and winding road toward being an option for mCRC treatment

INTRODUCTION

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the main causes of cancer-related morbidity and mortality worldwide. Mortality is most often attributable to metastatic disease. Despite the progress achieved so far, life expectancy continues to be limited in most patients. Ramucirumab, a most recent antiangiogenic drug, is vying in the race to metastatic CRC (mCRC) treatment since its approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), based on the results of the RAISE study.

AREAS COVERED

This article reviews the role of ramucirumab in mCRC, including clinical indication, safety issues, and future perspectives.

EXPERT OPINION

The use of Ramucirumab in clinical practice is still limited, probably due to economic burden and the lack of specific biomarkers. Future efforts will be addressed to improve our knowledge in the use of this drug and better guide us in patients' care.

Significant antitumor effect of an antibody against TMEM180, a new colorectal cancer-specific molecule

The present state of therapy for colorectal cancer (CRC) is far from satisfactory, highlighting the need for new targets for this disease. We identified a new CRC‐specific molecule, TMEM180, a predicted 11‐pass transmembrane protein that apparently functions as a cation symporter. We developed an anti‐TMEM180 mAb and then succeeded in humanizing the mAb. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) in CRC with the mAb showed a similar positivity rate as compared with anti‐epidermal growth factor receptor mAb, and IHC with anti‐TMEM180 mAb did not show staining in major organs used in this study. Immune electron microscopy clearly indicated that TMEM180 was present on the tumor exosome. The TMEM180 promoter region contains 10 hypoxia‐responsive element consensus sequences; accordingly, SW480 cells upregulated TMEM180 under low‐oxygen conditions. Anti‐TMEM180 mAb has in vitro antibody‐dependent cell‐mediated cytotoxicity and complement‐dependent cytotoxicity activity, and SW480 CRC xenografts were eradicated by the mAb. These data indicate that TMEM180 may be a new CRC marker and that a mAb against this protein could be used as antibody‐based therapy against CRC.

Monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of non-hematological tumors: a safety review

Introduction: The introduction of monoclonal antibodies (moAbs) into clinical practice revolutionized the treatment strategies in several solid tumors. These agents differ from cytotoxic chemotherapy for their mechanism of action and toxicity. By targeting specific antigens present on healthy cells and modulating immune system activity, these biological drugs are able to generate a wide spectrum of peculiar adverse events that can negatively impact on patients' quality of life. Areas covered: In this review, the main side effects associated with the use of moAbs have been described to show their incidence and current management strategies, which may drive clinicians in their daily practice. Expert opinion: The majority of these drugs represents an example of successful innovation, since they are able to induce a significant improvement of patients' survival and quality of life without any increase in related side effects as compared to standard cancer treatments. For this reason, they have become new milestones in personalized therapy for different non-hematological malignancies. With the increasing use of moAbs in treatment regimens, it is strongly recommended that clinicians are knowledgeable about the side effects associated with these agents, their management and monitoring, to optimize the clinical treatment of cancer patients.

Cardiovascular safety of oncologic agents: A double-edged sword even in the era of targeted therapies - part 1

INTRODUCTION

Patients with cancer are subject to the cardiotoxic effects of cancer therapy and as more patients survive cancer due to improved treatment they are exposed to various forms of cardiovascular (CV) disease as they age, and vice-versa. Such an interplay of age with both malignancy and CV disease may contribute to increased morbidity and mortality.

AREAS COVERED

This two-part review considers the effects of cancer drug treatment on the CV system. In Part I, the various types of CV and cardiometabolic toxicity of anti-cancer drugs and the possible mechanisms involved are discussed. Also, among the specific oncologic agents, the CV effects of the classical agents and of the large molecule immunological agents (monoclonal antibodies, including immune checkpoint inhibitors) are detailed.

EXPERT OPINION

Oncologic agents produce a variety of CV adverse effects, including cardiomyopathy and heart failure, peri-myocarditis, coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, hypertension (HTN), cardiac arrhythmias, valvular heart disease, and pulmonary HTN. Both the oncologist and the cardiologist need to be aware of such adverse effects and of the specific agents that produce them. They need to join forces to prevent, anticipate, recognize, and manage such complications.

Research progress on common adverse events caused by targeted therapy for colorectal cancer

As targeted drug therapy is increasingly applied in the treatment of colon cancer, understanding and managing the adverse reactions of patients is becoming increasingly important. The present review examines the mechanisms of and adverse reactions to the most commonly used targeted drugs for colon cancer, and discusses methods of coping with these adverse reactions. Approved targeted drugs for metastatic colon cancer include monoclonal antibodies targeting vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), including bevacizumab, ziv-aflibercept and regorafenib, and monoclonal antibodies targeting epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR), including cetuximab and panitumumab. The present review assesses the major adverse effects of these drugs and methods of dealing with reactions to them. VEGF inhibitors primarily result in cardiovascular and kidney problems. Meanwhile, EGFR receptor inhibitors are frequently reported to cause rashes, diarrhea and hypertension, and are reviewed from the point of view of resulting electrolyte disturbances.

NanoTRAIL-Oncology: A Strategic Approach in Cancer Research and Therapy

TRAIL is a member of the tumor necrosis factor superfamily that can largely trigger apoptosis in a wide variety of cancer cells, but not in normal cells. However, insufficient exposure to cancer tissues or cells and drug resistance has severely impeded the clinical application of TRAIL. Recently, nanobiotechnology has brought about a revolution in advanced drug delivery for enhanced anticancer therapy using TRAIL. With the help of materials science, immunology, genetic engineering, and protein engineering, substantial progress is made by expressing fusion proteins with TRAIL, engineering TRAIL on biological membranes, and loading TRAIL into functional nanocarriers or conjugating it onto their surfaces. Thus, the nanoparticle-based TRAIL (nanoTRAIL) opens up intriguing opportunities for efficient and safe bioapplications. In this review, the mechanisms of action and biological function of TRAIL, as well as the current status of TRAIL treatment, are comprehensively discussed. The application of functional nanotechnology combined with TRAIL in cancer therapy is also discussed.

ESCMID Study Group for Infections in Compromised Hosts (ESGICH) Consensus Document on the safety of targeted and biological therapies: an infectious diseases perspective (Cell surface receptors and associated signaling pathways)

BACKGROUND

The present review is part of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) Study Group for Infections in Compromised Hosts (ESGICH) consensus document on the safety of targeted and biologic therapies.

AIMS

To review, from an infectious diseases perspective, the safety profile of therapies targeting cell surface receptors and associated signaling pathways among cancer patients and to suggest preventive recommendations.

SOURCES

Computer-based Medline searches with MeSH terms pertaining to each agent or therapeutic family.

CONTENT

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-targeted agents (bevacizumab and aflibercept) are associated with a meaningful increase in the risk of infection, likely due to drug-induced neutropaenia, although no clear benefit is expected from the universal use of anti-infective prophylaxis. VEGF tyrosine kinase inhibitors (i.e. sorafenib or sunitinib) do not seem to significantly affect host's susceptibility to infection, and universal anti-infective prophylaxis is not recommended either. Anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) monoclonal antibodies (cetuximab or panitumumab) induce neutropaenia and secondary skin and soft tissue infection in cases of severe papulopustular rash. Systemic antibiotics (doxycycline or minocycline) should be administered to prevent the latter complication, whereas no recommendation can be established on the benefit from antiviral, antifungal or anti-Pneumocystis prophylaxis. A lower risk of infection is reported for anti-ErbB2/HER2 monoclonal antibodies (trastuzumab and pertuzumab) and ErbB receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (including dual-EGFR/ErbB2 inhibitors such as lapatinib or neratinib) compared to conventional chemotherapy, presumably as a result of the decreased occurrence of drug-induced neutropaenia.

IMPLICATIONS

With the exception of VEGF-targeted agents, the overall risk of infection associated with the reviewed therapies seems to be low.

COPB2 suppresses cell proliferation and induces cell cycle arrest in human colon cancer by regulating cell cycle-related proteins

Coat proteins (COPs), including the major types clathrin, COPI and COPII, play a considerable role in intracellular transport by initiating the formation of transport vesicles. Coatomer protein complex subunit β2 (COPB2) is one of the seven subunits that make up a COPI complex. In the present study, we found that COPB2 was highly expressed in human colon cancer specimens. However, to date, there have been no reports describing the functions of COPB2 in human colon cancer cells. In this study, we analyzed the functions of COPB2 in the proliferation and cell cycle arrest of human RKO and HCT116 colon cancer cells by using lentivirus-mediated RNAi infection. Our results demonstrated that the silencing of COPB2 in vitro could inhibit the proliferation and colony formation abilities of RKO and HCT116 cells. Furthermore, measurement of cell cycle distribution indicated that the downregulation of COPB2 could induce G0/G1 or S phase cell cycle arrest by regulating cell cycle-related proteins. In conclusion, our results suggest that COPB2 plays a key role in the proliferation and cell cycle progression of human RKO and HCT116 colon cancer cells, thus indicating that COPB2 might be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of human colon cancer.