A Retrospective Study of Ipilimumab Plus Nivolumab in Anti-PD-L1/PD-1 Refractory Merkel Cell Carcinoma
This study suggests limited, if any, clinical benefit of ipi-nivo in patients with advanced anti-PD-L1/anti-PD-1 refractory MCC. (Source: Journal of Immunotherapy)
Source: Journal of Immunotherapy - August 15, 2022 Category: Allergy & Immunology Tags: Clinical Studies Source Type: research
Influenza Vaccination in Cancer Patients Treated With Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
The safety and efficacy of influenza vaccination is not well-studied in cancer patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed aiming to summarize available data regarding influenza vaccination in ICI-treated cancer patients. Peer-reviewed studies or nonpeer-reviewed conference abstracts including ICI-treated cancer patients who received at least 1 dose of influenza vaccine were deemed eligible. A systematic search in PubMed/EMBASE was performed until October 26, 2021. Endpoints of interest included mortality as the primary outcome and secondary safety outcomes su...
Source: Journal of Immunotherapy - June 19, 2022 Category: Allergy & Immunology Tags: Clinical Studies Source Type: research
Identification of a Germline Pyrin Variant in a Metastatic Melanoma Patient With Multiple Spontaneous Regressions and Immune-related Adverse Events
We describe a metastatic melanoma patient exhibiting multiple episodes of spontaneous disease regression followed by the development of several irAEs during the course of anti–programmed cell death protein 1 antibody immunotherapy. Whole-exome next-generation sequencing studies revealed this patient to harbor a pyrin inflammasome variant previously described to be associated with an atypical presentation of familial Mediterranean fever. This work highlights a potential role for inflammasomes in the regulation of tumor immunosurveillance and the pathogenesis of irAEs. (Source: Journal of Immunotherapy)
Source: Journal of Immunotherapy - June 19, 2022 Category: Allergy & Immunology Tags: Clinical Studies Source Type: research
Lower Expression of GBP2 Associated With Less Immune Cell Infiltration and Poor Prognosis in Skin Cutaneous Melanoma (SKCM)
Guanylate binding protein 2 (GBP2) could bind to guanine nucleotides (GMP, GDP, and GTP) and exhibits antiviral activity against influenza virus through the innate immune response. Some researchers have demonstrated that the value of GBP2 in predicting the prognosis of multiple cancers and the complex correlation with immune response. However, the correlation of GBP2 to prognosis and immune cell infiltration level were unknown in skin cutaneous melanoma (SKCM). The GBP2 expression in multiple cancers were evaluated through Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER) and Oncomine. We also evaluated the influence of GBP2 on ove...
Source: Journal of Immunotherapy - June 19, 2022 Category: Allergy & Immunology Tags: Clinical Studies Source Type: research
Pembrolizumab-induced Myasthenia Gravis: Literature Review of Ocular Manifestations and a Refractory Case
We describe a case and perform a literature review of myasthenia gravis with ocular manifestations after treatment with pembrolizumab. Our case had bilateral ptosis refractory to conventional treatment, and she remained functionally blind as a result. The literature review included 28 cases of immune-related myasthenia gravis, and a 30% mortality rate excluding deaths from primary cancer progression was shown. Under half had full symptom resolution (n=13, 46%), and there was no clear correlation between specific management strategies and prognosis. Patients with isolated ocular myasthenia gravis (n=9, 32%) were twice as li...
Source: Journal of Immunotherapy - June 19, 2022 Category: Allergy & Immunology Tags: Clinical Studies Source Type: research
Re-introduction of T-VEC Monotherapy in Recurrent Melanoma is Effective
Talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC) is a modified herpes simplex virus type 1, which can be administered intralesionally in patients with stage IIIB/C-IVM1a (American Joint Committee of Cancer; AJCC 7th edition) unresectable melanoma. In the case of disease recurrence, T-VEC can be re-introduced for the same category of patients. Five patients with recurrent disease after a prior achieved complete response (CR) recommenced treatment with T-VEC monotherapy at the Netherlands Cancer Institute. We collected data on response, adverse events and baseline characteristics. All 5 patients that were re-treated with T-VEC presented wit...
Source: Journal of Immunotherapy - June 19, 2022 Category: Allergy & Immunology Tags: Clinical Studies Source Type: research
Axicabtagene Ciloleucel in Patients Ineligible for ZUMA-1 Because of CNS Involvement and/or HIV: A Multicenter Experience
Secondary central nervous system lymphoma (SCNSL) is associated with poor prognosis and new therapeutic approaches are needed. The pivotal trial that led to US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of axicabtagene ciloleucel excluded patients with SCNSL and human immunodeficiency virus. In this multi-institutional retrospective study, 14 SCNSL patients treated with axicabtagene ciloleucel, 3 of whom had human immunodeficiency virus, experienced rates of severe neurotoxicity and complete response of 32% and 58%, respectively. This is similar to rates observed in the pivotal ZUMA-1 trial that led to the approval of axi...
Source: Journal of Immunotherapy - May 21, 2022 Category: Allergy & Immunology Tags: Clinical Studies Source Type: research
PD-1 Inhibitor Plus Chemotherapy Versus Chemotherapy as First-line Treatment for Advanced Esophageal Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy has recently changed the first-line treatment of several cancers. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the efficacy and safety of programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) inhibitor plus chemotherapy as a first-line treatment for advanced esophageal cancer. Data were collected from eligible studies searched from PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Embase, and meeting abstracts. The pooled hazard ratios (HRs) for overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) and the pooled odds ratios (ORs) for objective response rate and treatment-related adverse event...
Source: Journal of Immunotherapy - May 21, 2022 Category: Allergy & Immunology Tags: Clinical Studies Source Type: research
Modified Protocol of Nivolumab in Relapsed/Refractory Hodgkin Lymphoma: A Brief Communication of Real World Data
In conclusion, nivolumab shows comparable efficacy and safety even with compromised dosing and schedule of administration of the drug in real world setting. (Source: Journal of Immunotherapy)
Source: Journal of Immunotherapy - May 21, 2022 Category: Allergy & Immunology Tags: Clinical Studies Source Type: research
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Exposure in Pregnancy: A Scoping Review
Since their approval, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have become the standard of care for multiple malignancies. ICIs enhance tumor destruction by blocking important immunomodulatory pathways that regulate T-cell activation. These pathways include programmed cell death protein-1 and its ligands (programmed cell death protein-1 and programmed death ligand-1, respectively) and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte–associated protein 4. While blocking these pathways can enhance tumor destruction, these pathways are critical for the development of maternal tolerance towards the fetus. Therefore, if ICIs disrupt these immunomodulatory ...
Source: Journal of Immunotherapy - May 21, 2022 Category: Allergy & Immunology Tags: Clinical Studies Source Type: research
Combination Therapy of an Antibody Specific for Transferrin Receptor 1 (ch128.1/IgG1) With Bortezomib or Lenalidomide Results in Increased Survival in an In Vivo Model of Human Multiple Myeloma: A Brief Communication
Transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1) is a universal cancer marker and a meaningful target for antibody-based immunotherapy. We previously developed a mouse/human chimeric antibody (ch128.1/IgG1) specific for the human TfR1 and reported that treatment of SCID-Beige mice bearing disseminated human multiple myeloma (MM) cells with ch128.1/IgG1 results in significant antitumor activity in early-stage and late-stage disease. Both bortezomib and lenalidomide are Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved therapeutics used to treat MM in combination with other agents. Since combining treatments with different mechanisms of action is an...
Source: Journal of Immunotherapy - May 21, 2022 Category: Allergy & Immunology Tags: Basic Study Source Type: research
Pembrolizumab Achieves a Complete Response in an NF-1 Mutated, PD-L1 Positive Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor: A Case Report and Review of the Benchmarks
We report a 60-year-old male patient with a primary para vertebral tumor at T7–T8 with lung metastases who recurred after surgical resection and later progressed on epirubicin plus ifosfamide. He was an international patient and referred to the phase 1 clinic. Molecular profiling and immunohistochemistry of the tumor revealed a PD-L1 expression of 70% (2+) and pathogenic genetic alterations by next-generation sequencing in ARID1A, CDKN2A, KMT2A, NF1, and TP53. Immune checkpoint therapy (ICT) with pembrolizumab was commenced, and interval computed tomography revealed a complete remission by cycle 6. Randomized clinical tr...
Source: Journal of Immunotherapy - April 8, 2022 Category: Allergy & Immunology Tags: Clinical Studies Source Type: research
Brief Communication PD1-related Nephrotoxicity: Optimizing Its Clinical Management Through Histopathologic Features
Immune-related nephrotoxicity (ir-N) is a rare adverse event of immune-checkpoint(s) inhibitors (ICI) therapy and its clinical management is still debated. Among 501 consecutive ICI-treated patients at our Institution, 6 who developed an ir-N with clinical signs suggestive for an acute kidney injury underwent kidney biopsy. Histology showed an acute tubule-interstitial nephritis, simulating the scenario of acute T-cell–mediated kidney transplant rejection. Thus, the management of allograft kidney rejection routinely utilized at our clinic was implemented, leading to rapid renal function improvement. Histologic features s...
Source: Journal of Immunotherapy - April 8, 2022 Category: Allergy & Immunology Tags: Clinical Studies Source Type: research
Association of Blood Biochemical Indexes and Antibiotic Exposure With Severe Immune-related Adverse Events in Patients With Advanced Cancers Receiving PD-1 Inhibitors
The objective was to identify clinicopathologic features that may be associated with a higher ir-SAE risk. This was a nested case-control study. After screening a total of 832 PD-1 inhibitor-treated patients, we identified 42 ir-SAE cases. According to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 5.0, ir-SAEs were defined as grade ≥3 toxic effects associated with immunotherapy. A total of 126 controls were matched. The crude and adjusted risks of ir-SAEs were estimated by odds ratio (ORs) and 95% CIs using multivariate logistic regression models. Baseline neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) [per SD...
Source: Journal of Immunotherapy - April 8, 2022 Category: Allergy & Immunology Tags: Clinical Studies Source Type: research
Rapid Unmasking of Immune-related Adverse Events After Discontinuation of Chemotherapy in Chemo-immunotherapy Regimens
We report 3 cases of patients on pembrolizumab in combination with cytotoxic chemotherapy who developed an irAE shortly following discontinuation of a chemotherapy agent. Cases were identified in the Rheumatology in Immuno-Oncology clinic at the University of Alberta and clinical data were extracted by retrospective chart review after obtaining written consent from individual patients. These findings demonstrate that chemotherapy may suppress irAEs in patients using ICIs, and that when chemotherapy agents in combined regimens are discontinued, irAEs can be “unmasked” within the following 6 weeks. Clinicians should be a...
Source: Journal of Immunotherapy - April 8, 2022 Category: Allergy & Immunology Tags: Clinical Studies Source Type: research
