Brentuximab-Induced Peripheral Neurotoxicity: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Manage an Emerging Challenge in Hodgkin Lymphoma Therapy

Exploring Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy Management Practice Patterns Among Oncology Clinicians

OBJECTIVES

Approximately 60% of cancer survivors receiving neurotoxic chemotherapy experience chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) (eg, hand and foot numbness, tingling, or pain). There is only one recommended pharmacological treatment (duloxetine) and one modestly beneficial nonpharmacological treatment (exercise) for CIPN. However, data suggest national guideline recommendations are not routinely practiced. Further, less is known about nurses' CIPN management practices. The purpose of this convergent mixed methods study was to explore oncology clinicians' self-reported practices and perceptions regarding CIPN prevention and management.

METHODS

Oncology clinicians at three cancer centers completed a survey about their recommendations for CIPN prevention and management in practice. A subset of clinicians also participated in a semi-structured interview to explore their perspectives of and motivations for implementing CIPN assessment, prevention, and management in practice. Quantitative data were described (eg, frequency or median) and qualitative data were analyzed using inductive content analysis.

RESULTS

This study (N = 44 survey responses; n = 9 interviews) resulted in four themes: (1) clinicians primarily recommend gabapentin for CIPN management and often observe cryotherapy used for CIPN prevention, but these interventions are complicated by discomfort, intolerable side effects, and efficacy concerns; (2) clinicians perceive CIPN as troublesome and desire additional information and resources regarding CIPN prevention and management; (3) CIPN-related education provided by clinicians may be limited by patient retention of the amount of education received about cancer treatment and other factors; (4) clinicians use subjective CIPN assessment to screen at each visit for common CIPN symptoms (eg, numbness or tingling) and the impact of symptoms on day-to-day activities.

CONCLUSIONS

Discrepancies persist between evidence-based guidelines on CIPN management and current oncology clinician practices.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE

Clinician involvement is needed when developing education and resources to help oncology clinicians provide the most evidence-based care to potentially prevent and manage their patients' CIPN.

Pharmacovigilance study of the association between peripheral neuropathy and antibody-drug conjugates using the FDA adverse event reporting system

Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are among the fastest-growing classes of anticancer drugs, making it crucial to evaluate their potential for causing peripheral neuropathy. We analyzed data from the FAERS database (January 1, 2014, to June 30, 2023) using disproportionality and Bayesian methods. We identified 3076 cases of ADC-associated peripheral neuropathy. Our study revealed significant signals for all ADCs (ROR 1.82, 95% CI 1.76-1.89). ADCs with tubulin-binding payloads showed significant peripheral neuropathy signals (ROR 2.31, 95% CI 2.23-2.40), whereas those with DNA-targeting (ROR 0.48, 95% CI 0.39-0.59) and topoisomerase 1 inhibitor (ROR 0.56, 95% CI 0.48-0.66) payloads exhibited non-significant signals. Signals for peripheral sensory neuropathy were 4.83, 2.44, 2.74, and 2.21 (calculated based on IC025) for brentuximab vedotin, trastuzumab emtansine, enfortumab vedotin, and polatuzumab vedotin, while signals for peripheral motor neuropathy were 5.31, 0.34, 2.27, and 0.03, respectively. The median time to onset for all ADCs was 127 days (interquartile range 40-457). Tisotumab vedotin had the highest hospitalization rate at 26.67%, followed by brentuximab vedotin at 25.5%. Trastuzumab emtansine had the highest mortality rate ,with 80 deaths (11.96%) among 669 cases. Based on FAERS database, only ADCs with tubulin-binding payloads exhibited significant peripheral neuropathy signals. Brentuximab vedotin and enfortumab vedotin showed similar profiles for peripheral sensory neuropathy and motor neuropathy. Given the delayed time to onset and potentially poor outcomes, ADC-related peripheral neuropathy warrants significant attention.

Management of peripheral neuropathy associated with brentuximab vedotin in the frontline treatment of classical Hodgkin lymphoma

The ECHELON-1 trial demonstrated the effectiveness of brentuximab vedotin (BV) in combination with doxorubicin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine as a frontline treatment regimen in classical Hodgkin lymphoma. However, peripheral neuropathy (PN) is common with this regimen, occurring in up to two-thirds of patients. While standard prescribing information recommends BV dose modification at the onset of grade 2 PN, management strategies for PN are not well-defined. Most commonly, clinicians dose reduce or discontinue BV, vinblastine, or both. We review evidence-based and practical approaches for managing peripheral neuropathy, emphasizing early detection and dose modification.

Plasma neurofilament light chain levels in chemotherapy-induced peripheral neurotoxicity according to type of anticancer drug

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

A real-time biomarker in chemotherapy-induced peripheral neurotoxicity (CIPN) would be useful for clinical decision-making during treatment. Neurofilament light chain (NfL) can be detected in blood in the case of neuroaxonal damage. The aim of the study was to compare the levels of plasma NfL (pNfL) according to the type of chemotherapeutic agent and the severity of CIPN.

METHODS

This single-center prospective observational longitudinal study included patients treated with paclitaxel (TX; n = 34), brentuximab vedotin (BV; n = 29), or oxaliplatin (PT; n = 19). All patients were assessed using the Total Neuropathy Score-clinical version and Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events before, during, and up to 6-12 months after the end of treatment. Nerve conduction studies (NCS) were performed before and after chemotherapy discontinuation. Consecutive plasma samples were analyzed for NfL levels using a Simoa® analyzer. Changes in pNfL were compared between groups and were eventually correlated with clinical and NCS data. Clinically relevant (CR) CIPN was considered to be grade ≥ 2.

RESULTS

Eighty-two patients, mostly women (59.8%), were included. One third of the patients who received TX (29.4%), BV (31%), or PT (36.8%) developed CR-CIPN, respectively, without differences among them (p = 0.854). Although pNfL significantly increased during treatment and decreased throughout the recovery period in all three groups, patients receiving TX showed significantly greater and earlier changes in pNfL levels compared to the other agents (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

A variable change in pNfL is observed depending on the type of agent and mechanism of neurotoxicity with comparable CIPN severity, strongly implying the need to identify different cutoff values for each agent.

Rate and characteristics of inflammatory neuropathies associated with brentuximab vedotin therapy

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Peripheral neuropathy is a frequent complication of brentuximab vedotin (BV), used in CD30+ lymphoma treatment. Classic BV-induced neuropathy (BV-CN) is a mild distal sensory axonal polyneuropathy. Severe BV-induced inflammatory neuropathies (BV-IN) have been described. BV-IN contribute to lymphoma-associated morbidity but might be immunotherapy-responsive. Our primary objective was to evaluate the rate of BV-IN. Our secondary objectives were to determine risk factors and warning signs.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study on all patients treated with BV at our center between April 2014 and September 2021. Clinical, biological, and electrophysiological data were collected. BV-induced neuropathy was defined as the occurrence of neuropathy up to 3 months after BV discontinuation. BV-IN was defined with criteria adapted from European Academy of Neurology/Peripheral Nerve Society 2021 electrodiagnostic criteria for chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy. Other neuropathies were classified as BV-CN.

RESULTS

Among 83 patients, 41 (49%) developed neuropathy: 35 BV-CN and 6 BV-IN. Thus, the rate of BV-IN was 7.2%. Compared to patients with BV-CN, no predisposing factor was identified. However, patients with BV-IN more frequently presented muscle weakness (67% vs. 5.7%, p < 0.05), gait disorders (83% vs. 20%, p < 0.05), or acute or subacute onset (67% vs. 14%, p < 0.05). BV-IN was frequently more severe (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events grade ≥3; 50% vs. 0%, p < 0.05). Four patients were treated with immunotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Brentuximab vedotin-induced neuropathy is an overlooked complication. Based on four easily identifiable "red flags", we provide an algorithm to help non-neurologist physicians that care for BV-treated patients to detect BV-IN. The aim of the algorithm is to decrease the diagnostic and management delay of this disabling neuropathy.

Updates on the mechanisms of toxicities associated with monoclonal antibodies targeting growth factor signaling and immune cells in cancer

Monoclonal antibody (mAb)-based immunotherapy currently is considered to be an optimal therapeutic approach to cancer treatment, either in combination with surgery, radiation, and/or chemotherapy or alone. Various solid tumors and hematological malignancies have been characterized by distinct molecular targets, which could be utilized as innovative anticancer agents. Notably, receptor tyrosine kinases, including HER2, EGFR, VEGFR, and PDGFR, which act as receptors for growth factors, serve as crucial target proteins, expanding their role in the cancer therapeutic market. In contrast to conventional anticancer agents that directly target cancer cells, the advent of immunotherapy introduces novel approaches, such as immune checkpoint blockers (ICBs) and mAbs targeting surface antigens on immune cells in hematological malignancies and lymphomas. While these immunotherapies have mitigated the acquired resistance observed in traditional targeted therapies, they also exhibit diverse toxicities. Herein, this review focuses on describing the well-established toxicities and newly proposed mechanisms of monoclonal antibody toxicity in recent studies. Understanding these molecular mechanisms is indispensable to overcoming the limitations of mAbs-based therapies, facilitating the development of innovative anticancer agents, and uncovering novel indications for cancer treatment in the future.

Novel OX40 and 4-1BB derived spacers enhance CD30 CAR activity and safety in CD30 positive lymphoma models

The chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) derived from the CD30 specific murine antibody, HRS-3, has produced promising clinical efficacy with a favorable safety profile in the treatment of relapsed or refractory CD30-positive lymphomas. However, persistence of the autologous CAR-T cells was brief, and many patients relapsed a year after treatment. The lack of persistence may be attributed to the use of a wild-type immunoglobulin (Ig)G1 spacer that can associate with Fc receptors. We first identified the cysteine-rich domain (CRD) 5 of CD30 as the primary binding epitope of HRS-3 and armed with this insight, attempted to improve the HRS-3 CAR functionality with a panel of novel spacer designs. We demonstrate that HRS-3 CARs with OX40 and 4-1BB derived spacers exhibited similar anti-tumor efficacy, circumvented interactions with Fc receptors, and secreted lower levels of cytokines in vitro than a CAR employing the IgG1 spacer. Humanization of the HRS-3 scFv coupled with the 4-1BB spacer preserved potent on-target, on-tumor efficacy, and on-target, off-tumor safety. In a lymphoma mouse model of high tumor burden, T cells expressing humanized HRS-3 CD30.CARs with the 4-1BB spacer potently killed tumors with low levels of circulating inflammatory cytokines, providing a promising candidate for future clinical development in the treatment of CD30-positive malignancies.

Ultramicronized N-palmitoylethanolamine associated with analgesics: Effects against persistent pain

Current epidemiological data estimate that one in five people suffers from chronic pain with considerable impairment of health-related quality of life. The pharmacological treatment is based on first- and second-line analgesic drugs, including COX-2 selective and nonselective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, paracetamol, antidepressants, anti-seizure drugs and opioids, that are characterized by important side effects. N-palmitoylethanolamine (PEA) is a body's own fatty-acid ethanolamide belonging to the family of autacoid local injury antagonist amides. The anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties of PEA have been recognized for decades and prompted to depict its role in the endogenous mechanisms of pain control. Together with its relative abundance in food sources, this opened the way to the use of PEA as a pain-relieving nutritional intervention. Naïve PEA is a large particle size lipid molecule with low solubility and bioavailability. Reducing particle size is a useful method to increase surface area, thereby improving dissolution rate and bioavailability accordingly. Micron-size formulations of PEA (e.g., ultramicronized and co-(ultra)micronized) have shown higher oral efficacy compared to naïve PEA. In particular, ultramicronized PEA has been shown to efficiently cross the intestinal wall and, more importantly, the blood-brain and blood-spinal cord barrier. Several preclinical and clinical studies have shown the efficacy, safety and tolerability of ultramicronized PEA. This narrative review summarizes the available pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic data on ultramicronized PEA and focuses to its contribution to pain control, in particular as 'add-on' nutritional intervention. Data showing the ability of ultramicronized PEA to limit opioid side effects, including the development of tolerance, have also been reviewed.

Safety Profile of the Trastuzumab-Based ADCs: Analysis of Real-World Data Registered in EudraVigilance

Trastuzumab (T) and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are among the first-line treatments recommended for HER2-positive breast cancer. More recently, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) such as trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) and trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) have been authorized, and they represent the second-line therapy in this type of cancer. The present study aimed to evaluate adverse drug reactions (ADRs) associated with T-based ADCs that were spontaneously reported in EudraVigilance-the European pharmacovigilance database. Out of 42,272 ADRs reported for currently approved ADCs on the market, 24% of ADRs were related to T-DM1, while 12% of ADRs were related to T-DXd. T-DM1 had a higher probability of reporting eye, ear and labyrinth, and cardiac and hepatobiliary ADRs, while T-DXd had a higher probability of reporting respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal, blood and lymphatic system, metabolism and nutrition, and gastrointestinal ADRs. The present research found that in terms of hematological disorders, T-DM1 and T-DXd had a higher probability of reporting ADRs than TKIs. Moreover, the data showed that T-DM1 seemed to have a higher risk of cardiotoxicity than T-DXd, while T-DXd had a higher probability of reporting metabolism and nutrition disorders than T-DM1.

How I Follow Hodgkin Lymphoma in First Complete (Metabolic) Remission?

Hodgkin lymphoma is characterized by a high cure rate in the modern era of medicine regardless of stage, but patients suffer from a high risk of comorbidity associated with the administered therapy. The main aim of this review article is to assess and analyze the various comorbidities associated with Hodgkin lymphoma and address the survivorship of patients, including fertility, secondary cancers due to cardiovascular toxicity, and quality of life. Furthermore, this review explores the optimal strategy for detecting relapse. The treatment paradigm of Hodgkin lymphoma has shifted, with a paradigm shift toward achieving a high cure rate and low toxicity as a standard of care in this patient population. Checkpoint inhibitors, especially nivolumab, in combination with chemotherapy are increasingly being studied in the first line of therapy. However, their long-term toxicity remains to be assessed in longer follow-up. In conclusion, Hodgkin lymphoma survivors, regardless of their treatment, should be followed up individually by a multidisciplinary survivorship team in order to detect and properly treat the long-term side effects of therapy.

Primary Cutaneous CD30-Positive Lymphoproliferative Disorders-Current Therapeutic Approaches with a Focus on Brentuximab Vedotin

One of the most common subgroups of cutaneous T-cell lymphomas is that of primary cutaneous CD30-positive lymphoproliferative disorders. The group includes lymphomatoid papulosis (LyP) and primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma (pcALCL), as well as some borderline cases. Recently, significant progress has been made in understanding the genetics and treatment of these disorders. This review article summarises the clinical evidence supporting the current treatment options for these diseases. Recent years have seen the introduction of novel agents into clinical practice; most of these target CD30, such as anti-CD30 monoclonal antibodies and conjugated antibodies (brentuximab vedotin), bispecific antibodies and cellular therapies, particularly anti-CD30 CAR-T cells. This paper briefly reviews the biology of CD30 that makes it a good therapeutic target and describes the anti-CD30 therapies that have emerged to date.

Brentuximab vedotin plus AVD for Hodgkin lymphoma: incidence and management of peripheral neuropathy in a multisite cohort

Brentuximab vedotin (BV) in combination with doxorubicin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (AVD) is increasingly used for frontline treatment of stage III/IV classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL). Peripheral neuropathy (PN) was the most common and treatment-limiting side effect seen in clinical trials but has not been studied in a nontrial setting, in which clinicians may have different strategies for managing it. We conducted a multisite retrospective study to characterize PN in patients who received BV + AVD for newly diagnosed cHL. One hundred fifty-three patients from 10 US institutions were eligible. Thirty-four patients (22%) had at least 1 ineligibility criteria for ECHELON-1, including stage, performance status, and comorbidities. PN was reported by 80% of patients during treatment; 39% experienced grade (G) 1, 31% G2, and 10% G3. In total, BV was modified in 44% of patients because of PN leading to BV discontinuation in 23%, dose reduction in 17%, and temporary hold in 4%. With a median follow-up of 24 months, PN resolution was documented in 36% and improvement in 33% at the last follow-up. Two-year progression-free survival (PFS) for the advanced-stage patients was 82.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.76-0.90) and overall survival was 97.4% (95% CI, 0.94-1.00). Patients who discontinued BV because of PN did not have inferior PFS. In the nontrial setting, BV + AVD was associated with a high incidence of PN. In our cohort, which includes patients who would not have been eligible for the pivotal ECHELON-1 trial, BV discontinuation rates were higher than previously reported, but 2-year outcomes remain comparable.

A mouse model of sensory neuropathy induced by a long course of monomethyl-auristatin E treatment

Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are anticancer drugs consisting of a monoclonal antibody, targeting selective tumor antigens, to which has been frequently associated a highly potent cytotoxic agent, the monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE) using a chemical linker. MMAE is a tubulin polymerization inhibitor derived from dolastin-10. These MMAE-ADCs are responsible for peripheral nerve toxicities. Our objective was to develop and characterize a mouse model of MMAE-induced peripheral neuropathy induced by free MMAE injections. MMAE was injected in Swiss mice at 50 μg/kg i.p. every other day for 7 weeks. Assessments of motor and sensory nerve functions were performed once a week on MMAE and Vehicle-treated mice. Sciatic nerve and paw skin were removed at the end of experiment for subsequent immunofluorescence and morphological analysis. MMAE did not affect motor coordination, muscular strength and heat nociception, but significantly induced tactile allodynia in MMAE-treated mice compared with Vehicle-treated mice from day 35 to day 49. MMAE significantly reduced myelinated and unmyelinated axon densities in sciatic nerves and led to a loss of intraepidermal nerve fiber in paw skin. In summary, long course of low dose of MMAE induced a peripheral sensory neuropathy associated with nerve degeneration, without general state alteration. This model may represent a ready accessible tool to screen neuroprotective strategies in the context of peripheral neuropathies induced by MMAE-ADCs.

Antibody-drug conjugates come of age in oncology

Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) combine the specificity of monoclonal antibodies with the potency of highly cytotoxic agents, potentially reducing the severity of side effects by preferentially targeting their payload to the tumour site. ADCs are being increasingly used in combination with other agents, including as first-line cancer therapies. As the technology to produce these complex therapeutics has matured, many more ADCs have been approved or are in late-phase clinical trials. The diversification of antigenic targets as well as bioactive payloads is rapidly broadening the scope of tumour indications for ADCs. Moreover, novel vector protein formats as well as warheads targeting the tumour microenvironment are expected to improve the intratumour distribution or activation of ADCs, and consequently their anticancer activity for difficult-to-treat tumour types. However, toxicity remains a key issue in the development of these agents, and better understanding and management of ADC-related toxicities will be essential for further optimization. This Review provides a broad overview of the recent advances and challenges in ADC development for cancer treatment.

Phone contacts and treatment discontinuation predict survival cancer patients in a subsidized drug access program

Aim: Survival of patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma is lower in in low- and middle-income countries, but factors leading to these outcomes are poorly understood. The objective of this study was to identify predictive factors associated with overall survival among cancer patients undergoing therapy in seven low- and middle-income countries. Materials & methods: A multicenter cohort was conducted in Egypt, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Philippines, Thailand and Ukraine. Results. A total of 460 patients were included. Phone-based support during patient follow-up and number of patients seen by the physician provided a positive impact, while the number of adverse events remains a predictor of death and physician decision to stop treatment. Conclusion: Furthers research on the potential benefit of phone-based programs to support patients with chronic diseases treatments should be explored in less developed countries.

Target Antigen Attributes and Their Contributions to Clinically Approved Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs) in Haematopoietic and Solid Cancers

Antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) are powerful anti-cancer therapies comprising an antibody joined to a cytotoxic payload through a chemical linker. ADCs exploit the specificity of antibodies for their target antigens, combined with the potency of cytotoxic drugs, to selectively kill target antigen-expressing tumour cells. The recent rapid advancement of the ADC field has so far yielded twelve and eight ADCs approved by the US and EU regulatory bodies, respectively. These serve as effective targeted treatments for several haematological and solid tumour types. In the development of an ADC, the judicious choice of an antibody target antigen with high expression on malignant cells but restricted expression on normal tissues and immune cells is considered crucial to achieve selectivity and potency while minimising on-target off-tumour toxicities. Aside from this paradigm, the selection of an antigen for an ADC requires consideration of several factors relating to the expression pattern and biological features of the target antigen. In this review, we discuss the attributes of antigens selected as targets for antibodies used in clinically approved ADCs for the treatment of haematological and solid malignancies. We discuss target expression, functions, and cellular kinetics, and we consider how these factors might contribute to ADC efficacy.

Cutaneous Lymphoma and Antibody-Directed Therapies

The introduction of monoclonal antibodies such as rituximab to the treatment of cancer has greatly advanced the treatment scenario in onco-hematology. However, the response to these agents may be limited by insufficient efficacy or resistance. Antibody–drug conjugates are an attractive strategy to deliver payloads of toxicity or radiation with high selectivity toward malignant targets and limited unwanted effects. Primary cutaneous lymphomas are a heterogeneous group of disorders and a current area of unmet need in dermato-oncology due to the limited options available for advanced cases. This review briefly summarizes our current understanding of T and B cell lymphomagenesis, with a focus on recognized molecular alterations that may provide investigative therapeutic targets. The authors reviewed antibody-directed therapies investigated in the setting of lymphoma: this term includes a broad spectrum of approaches, from antibody–drug conjugates such as brentuximab vedotin, to bi-specific antibodies, antibody combinations, antibody-conjugated nanotherapeutics, radioimmunotherapy and, finally, photoimmunotherapy with specific antibody–photoadsorber conjugates, as an attractive strategy in development for the future management of cutaneous lymphoma.

Role of inflammation and oxidative stress in chemotherapy-induced neurotoxicity

Chemotherapeutic agents may adversely affect the nervous system, including the neural precursor cells as well as the white matter. Although the mechanisms are not completely understood, several hypotheses connecting inflammation and oxidative stress with neurotoxicity are now emerging. The proposed mechanisms differ depending on the class of drug. For example, toxicity due to cisplatin occurs due to activation of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), which alters hippocampal long-term potentiation. Free radical injury is also involved in the cisplatin-mediated neurotoxicity as dysregulation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) has been seen which protects against the free radical injury by regulating glutathione S-transferases and hemeoxygenase-1 (HO-1). Thus, correcting the imbalance between NF-κB and Nrf2/HO-1 pathways may alleviate cisplatin-induced neurotoxicity. With newer agents like bortezomib, peripheral neuropathy occurs due to up-regulation of TNF-α and IL-6 in the sensory neurons. Superoxide dismutase dysregulation is also involved in bortezomib-induced neuropathy. This article reviews the available literature on inflammation and oxidative stress in neurotoxicity caused by various classes of chemotherapeutic agents. It covers the conventional medicines like platinum compounds, vinca alkaloids, and methotrexate, as well as the newer therapeutic agents like immunomodulators and immune checkpoint inhibitors. A better understanding of the pathophysiology will lead to further advancement in strategies for management of chemotherapy-induced neurotoxicity.