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Delombaerde D, Vulsteke C, Van de Veire N, Vervloet D, Moerman V, Van Calster L, Willems AM, Croes L, Gremonprez F, De Meulenaere A, Elzo Kraemer X, Wouters K, Peeters M, Prenen H, De Sutter J. Close Cardiovascular Monitoring during the Early Stages of Treatment for Patients Receiving Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2024; 17:965. [PMID: 39065813 PMCID: PMC11279915 DOI: 10.3390/ph17070965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2024] [Revised: 07/09/2024] [Accepted: 07/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: There is an unmet medical need for the early detection of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-induced cardiovascular (CV) adverse events due to a lack of adequate biomarkers. This study aimed to provide insights on the incidence of troponin elevations and echocardiographic dynamics during ICI treatment in cancer patients and their role as potential biomarkers for submyocardial damage. In addition, it is the first study to compare hs-TnT and hs-TnI in ICI-treated patients and to evaluate their interchangeability in the context of screening. Results: Among 59 patients, the mean patient age was 68 years, and 76% were men. Overall, 25% of patients received combination therapy. Although 10.6% [95% CI: 5.0-22.5] of the patients developed troponin elevations, none experienced a CV event. No significant changes were found in 3D left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction nor in global longitudinal strain f (56 ± 6% vs. 56 ± 6%, p = 0.903 and -17.8% [-18.5; -14.2] vs. -17.0% [-18.8; -15.1], p = 0.663) at 3 months. There were also no significant changes in diastolic function and right ventricular function. In addition, there was poor agreement between hs-TnT and hs-TnI. Methods: Here, we present a preliminary analysis of the first 59 patients included in our ongoing prospective clinical trial (NCT05699915) during the first three months of treatment. All patients underwent electrocardiography and echocardiography along with blood sampling at standardized time intervals. This study aimed to investigate the incidence of elevated hs-TnT levels within the first three months of ICI treatment. Elevations were defined as hs-TnT above the upper limit of normal (ULN) if the baseline value was normal, or 1.5 ≥ times baseline if the baseline value was above the ULN. Conclusions: Hs-TnT elevations occurred in 10.6% of the patients. However, no significant changes were found on 3D echocardiography, nor did any of the patients develop a CV event. There were also no changes found in NT-proBNP. The study is still ongoing, but these preliminary findings do not show a promising role for cardiac troponins nor for echocardiographic dynamics in the prediction of CV events during the early stages of ICI treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle Delombaerde
- Integrated Cancer Center Ghent, Department of Medical Oncology, AZ Maria Middelares, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (C.V.); (F.G.); (A.D.M.); (X.E.K.)
- Center for Oncological Research (CORE), Integrated Personalized and Precision Oncology Network (IPPON), University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium; (L.C.); (M.P.); (H.P.)
| | - Christof Vulsteke
- Integrated Cancer Center Ghent, Department of Medical Oncology, AZ Maria Middelares, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (C.V.); (F.G.); (A.D.M.); (X.E.K.)
- Center for Oncological Research (CORE), Integrated Personalized and Precision Oncology Network (IPPON), University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium; (L.C.); (M.P.); (H.P.)
| | - Nico Van de Veire
- Department of Cardiology, AZ Maria Middelares, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (N.V.d.V.); (D.V.); (V.M.); (L.V.C.); (A.-M.W.); (J.D.S.)
- Department of Cardiology, Free University Brussels, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Delphine Vervloet
- Department of Cardiology, AZ Maria Middelares, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (N.V.d.V.); (D.V.); (V.M.); (L.V.C.); (A.-M.W.); (J.D.S.)
| | - Veronique Moerman
- Department of Cardiology, AZ Maria Middelares, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (N.V.d.V.); (D.V.); (V.M.); (L.V.C.); (A.-M.W.); (J.D.S.)
| | - Lynn Van Calster
- Department of Cardiology, AZ Maria Middelares, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (N.V.d.V.); (D.V.); (V.M.); (L.V.C.); (A.-M.W.); (J.D.S.)
| | - Anne-Marie Willems
- Department of Cardiology, AZ Maria Middelares, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (N.V.d.V.); (D.V.); (V.M.); (L.V.C.); (A.-M.W.); (J.D.S.)
| | - Lieselot Croes
- Center for Oncological Research (CORE), Integrated Personalized and Precision Oncology Network (IPPON), University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium; (L.C.); (M.P.); (H.P.)
- Multidisciplinary Oncologic Center Antwerp (MOCA), Antwerp University Hospital, 2650 Edegem, Belgium
| | - Félix Gremonprez
- Integrated Cancer Center Ghent, Department of Medical Oncology, AZ Maria Middelares, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (C.V.); (F.G.); (A.D.M.); (X.E.K.)
| | - Astrid De Meulenaere
- Integrated Cancer Center Ghent, Department of Medical Oncology, AZ Maria Middelares, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (C.V.); (F.G.); (A.D.M.); (X.E.K.)
| | - Ximena Elzo Kraemer
- Integrated Cancer Center Ghent, Department of Medical Oncology, AZ Maria Middelares, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (C.V.); (F.G.); (A.D.M.); (X.E.K.)
| | - Kristien Wouters
- Antwerp University Hospital, Clinical Trial Center (CTC), CRC Antwerp, 2650 Edegem, Belgium;
| | - Marc Peeters
- Center for Oncological Research (CORE), Integrated Personalized and Precision Oncology Network (IPPON), University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium; (L.C.); (M.P.); (H.P.)
- Multidisciplinary Oncologic Center Antwerp (MOCA), Antwerp University Hospital, 2650 Edegem, Belgium
| | - Hans Prenen
- Center for Oncological Research (CORE), Integrated Personalized and Precision Oncology Network (IPPON), University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium; (L.C.); (M.P.); (H.P.)
- Multidisciplinary Oncologic Center Antwerp (MOCA), Antwerp University Hospital, 2650 Edegem, Belgium
| | - Johan De Sutter
- Department of Cardiology, AZ Maria Middelares, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (N.V.d.V.); (D.V.); (V.M.); (L.V.C.); (A.-M.W.); (J.D.S.)
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
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Gergely TG, Drobni ZD, Kallikourdis M, Zhu H, Meijers WC, Neilan TG, Rassaf T, Ferdinandy P, Varga ZV. Immune checkpoints in cardiac physiology and pathology: therapeutic targets for heart failure. Nat Rev Cardiol 2024; 21:443-462. [PMID: 38279046 DOI: 10.1038/s41569-023-00986-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
Immune checkpoint molecules are physiological regulators of the adaptive immune response. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), such as monoclonal antibodies targeting programmed cell death protein 1 or cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated protein 4, have revolutionized cancer treatment and their clinical use is increasing. However, ICIs can cause various immune-related adverse events, including acute and chronic cardiotoxicity. Of these cardiovascular complications, ICI-induced acute fulminant myocarditis is the most studied, although emerging clinical and preclinical data are uncovering the importance of other ICI-related chronic cardiovascular complications, such as accelerated atherosclerosis and non-myocarditis-related heart failure. These complications could be more difficult to diagnose, given that they might only be present alongside other comorbidities. The occurrence of these complications suggests a potential role of immune checkpoint molecules in maintaining cardiovascular homeostasis, and disruption of physiological immune checkpoint signalling might thus lead to cardiac pathologies, including heart failure. Although inflammation is a long-known contributor to the development of heart failure, the therapeutic targeting of pro-inflammatory pathways has not been successful thus far. The increasingly recognized role of immune checkpoint molecules in the failing heart highlights their potential use as immunotherapeutic targets for heart failure. In this Review, we summarize the available data on ICI-induced cardiac dysfunction and heart failure, and discuss how immune checkpoint signalling is altered in the failing heart. Furthermore, we describe how pharmacological targeting of immune checkpoints could be used to treat heart failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamás G Gergely
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
- HCEMM-SU Cardiometabolic Immunology Research Group, Budapest, Hungary
- MTA-SE Momentum Cardio-Oncology and Cardioimmunology Research Group, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zsófia D Drobni
- Heart and Vascular Center, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Marinos Kallikourdis
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Milan, Italy
- Adaptive Immunity Lab, Humanitas Research Hospital IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Han Zhu
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Wouter C Meijers
- Erasmus MC, Cardiovascular Institute, Thorax Center, Department of Cardiology, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Tomas G Neilan
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tienush Rassaf
- Department of Cardiology and Vascular Medicine, West German Heart and Vascular Center Essen, Medical Faculty, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Péter Ferdinandy
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
- Pharmahungary Group, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Zoltán V Varga
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
- HCEMM-SU Cardiometabolic Immunology Research Group, Budapest, Hungary.
- MTA-SE Momentum Cardio-Oncology and Cardioimmunology Research Group, Budapest, Hungary.
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Chen Z, Jia K, Zheng Y, Zhang N, Wang X, Tse G, Zhang Z, Hu H, Liu T. Electrocardiographic characteristics of bladder cancer patients receiving preoperative chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy. Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2024; 29:e13107. [PMID: 38288514 PMCID: PMC10809286 DOI: 10.1111/anec.13107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Patients treated with preoperative chemotherapy and immunotherapy for bladder cancer may be at increased risk of cardiotoxicity and electrophysiological abnormalities. This study aimed to analyze their electrocardiographic (ECG) alterations. METHODS Patients with bladder cancer who were hospitalized and receiving tislelizumab plus nab-paclitaxel (TnP) were enrolled prospectively. ECG, cardiac biomarkers, and echocardiography were performed at baseline and the end of TnP. RESULTS A total of 60 patients (76.7% males), including 30 muscle-invasive and 30 non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer, received three or four cycles of TnP, respectively. Hypertension was the commonest comorbidity (41.7%), and 25 patients (41.7%) were prescribed cardiovascular drugs. In comparison with baseline characteristics, cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) were within normal ranges after TnP. However, echocardiographic parameter of left ventricular ejection fraction slightly decreased after TnP (62.81 ± 3.81% to 61.10 ± 4.37%, p = .011). The incidence of abnormal ECG increased from 65.0% at baseline to 76.7%, of which only a higher prevalence of fragmented QRS (fQRS) was observed (33.3% to 50.0%, p = .013; mainly in inferior leads). ECG parameters of QT dispersion (QTd) were prolonged significantly after the regimen (39.50 ± 11.37 to 44.20 ± 15.85 ms, p = .019). CONCLUSION In bladder cancer patients receiving preoperative chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy, the main ECG abnormality was fQRS and QTd, with relatively normal cardiac biomarkers and echocardiographic parameters. Regular ECG screening should be carried out carefully to detect potential cardiotoxicity in the long-term follow-up.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zi‐Liang Chen
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Ionic‐Molecular Function of Cardiovascular Disease, Department of Cardiology, Tianjin Institute of CardiologyThe Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical UniversityTianjinChina
| | - Kai‐Peng Jia
- Department of Urology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical UniversityTianjin Institute of UrologyTianjinChina
| | - Yi Zheng
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Ionic‐Molecular Function of Cardiovascular Disease, Department of Cardiology, Tianjin Institute of CardiologyThe Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical UniversityTianjinChina
| | - Nan Zhang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Ionic‐Molecular Function of Cardiovascular Disease, Department of Cardiology, Tianjin Institute of CardiologyThe Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical UniversityTianjinChina
| | - Xin Wang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Ionic‐Molecular Function of Cardiovascular Disease, Department of Cardiology, Tianjin Institute of CardiologyThe Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical UniversityTianjinChina
| | - Gary Tse
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Ionic‐Molecular Function of Cardiovascular Disease, Department of Cardiology, Tianjin Institute of CardiologyThe Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical UniversityTianjinChina
- Kent and Medway Medical SchoolCanterburyKentUK
- School of Nursing and Health StudiesHong Kong Metropolitan UniversityHong KongChina
| | - Zhi‐Wei Zhang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Ionic‐Molecular Function of Cardiovascular Disease, Department of Cardiology, Tianjin Institute of CardiologyThe Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical UniversityTianjinChina
| | - Hai‐Long Hu
- Department of Urology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical UniversityTianjin Institute of UrologyTianjinChina
| | - Tong Liu
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Ionic‐Molecular Function of Cardiovascular Disease, Department of Cardiology, Tianjin Institute of CardiologyThe Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical UniversityTianjinChina
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Vasbinder A, Ismail A, Salem JE, Hayek SS. Role of Biomarkers in the Management of Immune-Checkpoint Inhibitor-Related Myocarditis. Curr Cardiol Rep 2023; 25:959-967. [PMID: 37436648 DOI: 10.1007/s11886-023-01915-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-related myocarditis poses a major clinical challenge given its non-specific presentation, rapid progression, and high mortality rate. Here, we review the role of blood-based biomarkers in the clinical management of patients with ICI-related myocarditis. RECENT FINDINGS Myocardial injury, its unique pattern, and the co-occurrence with myositis are defining features of ICI-related myocarditis. Non-cardiac biomarkers, specifically creatinine phosphokinase, precedes the symptomatic presentation and is highly sensitive for diagnosing ICI-related myocarditis, making them useful screening biomarkers. Combined elevations in cardiac troponins and non-cardiac biomarkers improve the confidence of an ICI myocarditis diagnosis. High troponin and creatinine phosphokinase levels are strongly associated with severe outcomes. We propose biomarker-based algorithms for the monitoring and diagnosis of ICI-related myocarditis. Biomarkers, such as cardiac troponins and creatine phosphokinase, can be used in combination in the monitoring, diagnosis, and prognostication of patients with ICI-related myocarditis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexi Vasbinder
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Frankel Cardiovascular Center, 1500 E Medical Center Dr, CVC #2709, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Anis Ismail
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Frankel Cardiovascular Center, 1500 E Medical Center Dr, CVC #2709, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Joe-Elie Salem
- Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Investigation Centre, Pitié-Salpetriere Hospital, Sorbonne Universite, Paris, France
| | - Salim S Hayek
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Frankel Cardiovascular Center, 1500 E Medical Center Dr, CVC #2709, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
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