Hypophysitis: A rare but noteworthy immune-related adverse event secondary to camrelizumab therapy

Xiaoying Han, Min Meng, Tiehong Zhang, Jiao Wang, Guanghui Huang, Yang Ni, Wenhong Li, Jianjian Dai, Xia Yang, Xin YeJournal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics 2022 18(5):1440-1443 The programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) inhibitor – camrelizumab – is a promising agent for the treatment of several malignancies. Secondary hypophysitis has been reported in patients treated with the other PD-1 inhibitors such as nivolumab and pembrolizumab. However, camrelizumab-related hypophysitis has not yet been described. Herein, we report three cases of hypophysitis secondary to camrelizumab therapy. Case 1 was a 60-year-old male patient with non-small-cell lung carcinoma, who was diagnosed with central adrenal insufficiency associated with hypophysitis after 11 cycles of camrelizumab treatment (200 mg every 2 weeks). Glucocorticoid therapy rapidly improved his symptoms. Case 2 was a 68-year-old male patient with hepatocellular carcinoma who received ten cycles of camrelizumab (200 mg every 2 weeks) plus apatinib (250 mg daily), before the diagnosis of hypophysitis. Steroid therapy was also efficacious. Case 3 was a 69-year-old male patient diagnosed with renal carcinoma. After eight cycles of camrelizumab therapy (200 mg every 2 weeks) combined with oral apatinib (250 mg daily), the patient presented with hypophysitis, which responded well to glucocorticoid therapy. These results suggest a caution for hypophysitis in patients treated with camrelizumab.
Source: Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics - Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Source Type: research