Epstein-Barr Virus-Positive Mucocutaneous Ulcers Complicate Colitis Caused by Immune Checkpoint Regulator Therapy and Associate With Colon Perforation

Immune-mediated colitis after immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have led to improved outcome in patients with various types of cancer. Due to inhibition of physiological anti-inflammatory mechanisms, patients treated with ICIs may develop autoimmune inflammation of the colon, associated with morbidity, decreased quality of life (QoL), and mortality. In this review, we summarize clinical and pathophysiological aspects of immune-mediated colitis (ImC), highlighting novel treatment options. In the colon, ICIs trigger resident and circulating T cell activation and infiltration of myeloid cells. In addition, the gut microbiota critically contribute to intestinal immune dysregulation and loss of barrier function, thereby propagating local and systemic inflammation. Currently available therapies for ImC include corticosteroids, antitumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)- and anti-integrin α4β7 antibodies. Given that systemic immunosuppression might impair antitumor immune responses, novel therapeutic approaches are urgently needed.

Systematic review of immune checkpoint inhibitor-related gastrointestinal, hepatobiliary, and pancreatic adverse events

Gastrointestinal immune-related adverse events (GI irAEs) are common manifestations of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) toxicity. We present a comprehensive systematic review of the incidence, management, and clinical course of irAEs across the entire GI system, including the luminal GI tract, liver, and pancreas. MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science Core Collection, and Cochrane Library were used to conduct this review. All studies pertaining to GI irAEs were included. Both abstracts and full manuscripts were eligible if they included human subjects and were written in the English language. Articles not available in English, animal studies, or research not specific to GI toxicity of immunotherapy were excluded. We excluded certain article types depending on whether stronger evidence was available in the literature for a specific toxicity, for example, if prospective studies were available on a topic, retrospective studies and case reports were excluded. We extracted a final 166 articles for our review and followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines for data reporting. Risk of bias tools were not used to evaluate the extracted studies given the narrative nature of this manuscript, but each study was critically appraised by the manuscript writer. We detail the incidence, presentation, evaluation, management, and outcomes of the various GI toxicities that may arise with ICI therapy. Specifically, we discuss the characteristics of upper GI toxicity (esophagitis and gastroenteritis), lower GI toxicity (colitis), hepatobiliary inflammation, pancreatitis, and rarer forms of GI toxicity. We hope this review serves as a useful and accessible clinical tool that helps physicians familiarize themselves with the nuances of gastrointestinal/hepatic/pancreatic ICI toxicity diagnosis and management.

A case report of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis induced by toripalimab plus chemoradiotherapy in cervical cancer

Background

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare but life-threatening clinical syndrome characterized by immune hyperactivation. Unlike primary HLH, immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-triggered HLH is not well described, and there is a lack of theranostic guidelines. Herein, we first reported the successful management of PD-1 inhibitor-associated HLH in locally advanced cervical cancer.

Case presentation

We report a case of HLH in a 47-year-old patient with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) IIIC1r cervical cancer who received toripalimab, a programmed cell death-1 receptor inhibitor, combined with chemoradiotherapy. The patient developed pyrexia, splenomegaly, leukopenia, anemia, thrombocytopenia, hypertriglyceridemia, hypofibrinogenemia, hyperferritinemia, reduced NK cell activity, elevated sCD25 levels, and hemophagocytosis in a bone marrow aspirate. Our patient was successfully treated with methylprednisolone, indicating that immune-induced HLH might respond to glucocorticoids, and is still alive with a complete response of the tumor.

Conclusion

Considering the possibility of HLH is needed in patients receiving ICIs to detect rare toxicities at an early stage when the patient develops uncontrollable fever, cytopenia, and splenomegaly, our multidisciplinary treatment modality contributed to the early diagnosis and successful management of HLH, avoiding progressive tissue damage and organ failure. Whether glucocorticoids are used alone or not for immune-associated HLH needs further investigation.

Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis Associated with Immunological Checkpoint Inhibitors: A Pharmacovigilance Study

BACKGROUND

Acquired hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare but potentially fatal condition characterized by hyperactivation of macrophages and cytotoxic lymphocytes, combining a series of non-specific clinical symptoms and laboratory disorders. Etiologies are multiple: infectious (mainly viral) but also oncologic, autoimmune or drug-induced. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) are recent anti-tumor agents associated with a novel profile of adverse events triggered by immune system over-activation. Here, we sought to provide a comprehensive description and analysis of HLH cases reported with ICI since 2014.

METHODS

Disproportionality analyses were performed in order to further explore the association between ICI therapy and HLH. We selected 190 cases, 177 from the World Health Organization pharmacovigilance database and 13 from the literature. Detailed clinical characteristics were retrieved from the literature and from the French pharmacovigilance database.

RESULTS

The cases of HLH reported with ICI concerned men in 65% of cases with a median age of 64 years. HLH occurred in an average of 102 days after the initiation of ICI treatment and mostly concerned nivolumab, pembrolizumab and nivolumab/ipilimumab combination. All cases were considered serious. Most cases presented a favorable outcome (58.4%); however, death was reported for 15.3% of patients. Disproportionality analyses showed that HLH was seven times more frequently reported with ICI therapy than with other drugs and three times more than with other antineoplastic agents.

CONCLUSIONS

Clinicians should be aware of the potential risk of ICI-related HLH to improve the early diagnosis of this rare immune-related adverse event.

How I Diagnose EBV-Positive B- and T-Cell Lymphoproliferative Disorders

OBJECTIVES

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated lymphoproliferative disorders (LPDs) encompass a group of well-defined entities of B-, T-, and natural killer (NK)-cell derivation. The diagnosis of these disorders is challenging because of clinical and morphologic features that may overlap with other benign and malignant EBV+ lymphoproliferations. This review describes our approach to the diagnosis of EBV-associated LPDs.

METHODS

Two cases are presented that illustrate how we diagnose EBV-associated LPDs. The first case represents a systemic EBV+ T-cell lymphoma of childhood and the second case an EBV+ mucocutaneous ulcer. The clinicopathologic features that help distinguish these entities from biological and morphologic mimickers are emphasized.

RESULTS

The accurate diagnosis of EBV-associated LPDs requires the incorporation of histologic and immunophenotypic features, the assessment of the EBV latency program, and, most important, complete clinical findings. Clonality analysis is not helpful in distinguishing benign from malignant EBV+ LPDs.

CONCLUSIONS

The better understanding of EBV-associated LPDs has resulted in the recognition of well-defined entities of B-, T-, and NK-cell derivation and consequently improvement of their treatment with curative intent. It is critical to distinguish benign from malignant EBV+ LPDs to avoid overtreatment.

New concepts in EBV-associated B, T, and NK cell lymphoproliferative disorders

EBV-associated lymphoproliferative disorders (LPD) include conditions of B, T, and NK cell derivation with a wide clinicopathological spectrum ranging from indolent, self-limiting, and localized conditions to highly aggressive lymphomas. Since the 2016 World Health Organization (WHO) lymphoma classification, progress has been made in understanding the biology of the EBV-associated LPDs. The diagnostic criteria of EBV+ mucocutaneous ulcer and lymphomatoid granulomatosis have been refined, and a new category of EBV-positive polymorphic B cell LPD was introduced to encompass the full spectrum of EBV-driven B cell disorders. The differential diagnosis of these conditions is challenging. This report will present criteria to assist the pathologist in diagnosis. Within the group of EBV-associated T and NK cell lymphomas, a new provisional entity is recognized, namely, primary nodal EBV+ T or NK cell lymphoma. The EBV + T and NK cell LPDs in children have undergone major revisions. In contrast to the 2016 WHO classification, now four major distinct groups are recognized: hydroa vacciniforme (HV) LPD, severe mosquito bite allergy, chronic active EBV (CAEBV) disease, and systemic EBV-positive T cell lymphoma of childhood. Two forms of HV LPD are recognized: the classic and the systemic forms with different epidemiology, clinical presentation, and prognosis. The subclassification of PTLD, not all of which are EBV-positive, remains unaltered from the 2016 WHO classification. This review article summarizes the conclusions and the recommendations of the Clinical Advisory Committee (CAC), which are summarized in the International Consensus Classification of Mature Lymphoid Neoplasms.

Primary Epstein-Barr Virus-Positive Mucocutaneous Ulcer of Esophagus: A Rare Case Report

Primary EBV-positive mucocutaneous ulcer (EBVMCU) is a rare and indolent disorder occurring in the oropharynx, skin, and gastrointestinal tract, with remission after removal of the immunosuppressive causes. We present a 69-year-old woman with heartburn, regurgitation of gastric acid, enlarged lymph nodes, and parotid glands. The endoscopic examination showed a circumscribed ulcer in the lower esophagus. A biopsy pathology indicated an esophageal EBV-associated lymphoproliferative disorder and a parotid gland/lymph node indolent B-cell lymphoma. Interestingly, the patient did not undergo any treatment, but the endoscopic ulcer improved significantly after more than 2 months. The last pathology showed EBV negativity, and EBVMCU was considered in combination with clinical and endoscopic manifestations. We followed up with the patient at 6 months, and the symptoms of acid reflux and heartburn had disappeared. Our case demonstrates that EBVMCU may occur in the esophagus with spontaneous regression.

Co-Occurrence of EBV-Positive Mucocutaneous Ulcer (EBV-MCU) and CLL/SLL in the Head and Neck Region

EBV-positive mucocutaneous ulcer (EBV-MCU) was classified as a rare new entity of the lymphoproliferative B-cell diseases by the WHO in 2017 and must be distinguished from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma by early biopsy. The aim of the study is to raise awareness of the disease and to give a review of the current literature and a recommendation for EBV-MCU management. All EBV-MCU cases of the head and neck region published so far were included. We also report a case of a pharyngeal EBV-MCU in an 89-year-old patient who was immunosuppressed by chronic lymphatic leukaemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL). In contrast to all previously described cases, histopathology showed a co-infiltration of EBV-MCU and CLL/SLL. A total of 181 cases were identified on PubMed and summarised. EBV-MCU was predominantly caused by immunosuppressive drug therapy. Complete remission could be achieved in 68% of cases and was mainly attributed to a reduction of the immunosuppressive therapy alone (72%). However, some severe cases require more aggressive treatment. Regarding the various histopathologic similarities to other lymphoproliferative disorders, the diagnosis of EBV-MCU can be misleading, with a great impact on patient care and treatment. This diagnosis must be made with caution and requires a combination of clinical, morphological and immunophenotypic features.

EBV-Driven Lymphoproliferative Disorders and Lymphomas of the Gastrointestinal Tract: A Spectrum of Entities with a Common Denominator (Part 3)

EBV is the first known oncogenic virus involved in the development of several tumors. The majority of the global population are infected with the virus early in life and the virus persists throughout life, in a latent stage, and usually within B lymphocytes. Despite the worldwide diffusion of EBV infection, EBV-associated diseases develop in only in a small subset of individuals often when conditions of immunosuppression disrupt the balance between the infection and host immune system. EBV-driven lymphoid proliferations are either of B-cell or T/NK-cell origin, and range from disorders with an indolent behavior to aggressive lymphomas. In this review, which is divided in three parts, we provide an update of EBV-associated lymphoid disorders developing in the gastrointestinal tract, often representing a challenging diagnostic and therapeutic issue. Our aim is to provide a practical diagnostic approach to clinicians and pathologists who face this complex spectrum of disorders in their daily practice. In this part of the review, the chronic active EBV infection of T-cell and NK-cell type, its systemic form; extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type and post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders are discussed.

EBV-Driven Lymphoproliferative Disorders and Lymphomas of the Gastrointestinal Tract: A Spectrum of Entities with a Common Denominator (Part 1)

EBV is the most common persistent virus in humans. The interaction of EBV with B lymphocytes, which are considered the virus reservoir, is at the base of the life-long latent infection. Under circumstances of immunosuppression, the balance between virus and host immune system is altered and hence, EBV-associated lymphoid proliferations may originate. These disorders encompass several entities, ranging from self-limited diseases with indolent behavior to aggressive lymphomas. The virus may infect not only B-cells, but even T- and NK-cells. The occurrence of different types of lymphoid disorders depends on both the type of infected cells and the state of host immunity. EBV-driven lymphoproliferative lesions can rarely occur in the gastrointestinal tract and may be missed even by expert pathologists due to both the uncommon site of presentation and the frequent overlapping morphology and immunophenotypic features shared by different entities. The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of the current knowledge of EBV-associated lymphoproliferative disorders, arising within the gastrointestinal tract. The review is divided in three parts. In this part, the available data on EBV biology, EBV-positive mucocutaneous ulcer, EBV-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified and classic Hodgkin lymphoma are discussed.

Epstein-Barr Virus Positive B-Cell Lymphoproliferative Disorder of the Gastrointestinal Tract

Epstein-Barr virus positive B-cell lymphoproliferative disorder (EBV+ B-LPD) encompasses a broad clinicopathological spectrum and distinct clinical behavior that relatively favors the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. In this review, we provide an update on the clinicopathological features and biological behavior of EBV-positive mucocutaneous ulcer (EBVMCU) and primary EBV+ diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) of the GI tract. EBVMCU is a newly recognized entity but well known as an indolent and self-limited EBV+ B-LPD occurring in various immunodeficiencies. In contrast, EBV+ DLBCL constitutes the largest group of EBV+ B-LPDs and is regarded as an aggressive neoplasm. These two distinct diseases have historically been distinguished in the reappraisal of age-related EBV-associated B-LPDs but are challenging in routine practice regarding their differential diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. An increasing number of reports indicate that they are epidemiologically prevalent beyond western and eastern countries, but their comprehensive analysis is still limited. We also describe the PD-L1 positivity of tumorous large cells and non-malignant immune cells, which is relevant for the prognostic delineation among patients with primary DLBCL of the GI tract with and without EBV on tumor cells.

Epstein-Barr Virus-Positive Mucocutaneous Ulcer: A Unique and Curious Disease Entity

Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)-positive mucocutaneous ulcer (EBVMCU) was first described as a lymphoproliferative disorder in 2010. EBVMCU is a unifocal mucosal or cutaneous ulcer that often occurs after local trauma in patients with immunosuppression; the patients generally have a good prognosis. It is histologically characterized by proliferating EBV-positive atypical B cells accompanied by ulcers. On the basis of conventional pathologic criteria, EBVMCU may be misdiagnosed as EBV-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma or other lymphomas. However, its prognosis differs from that of EBV-associated lymphomas, in that patients with EBVMCU frequently show spontaneous regression or complete remission without chemotherapy. Therefore, EBVMCU is now recognized as a low-grade malignancy or a pseudo-malignant lesion. Avoiding unnecessary chemotherapy by distinguishing EBVMCU from other EBV-associated lymphomas will reduce the burden and unnecessary harm on patients. On the basis of these facts, EBVMCU was first described as a new clinicopathological entity by the World Health Organization in 2017. In this review, we discuss the clinicopathological characteristics of previously reported EBVMCU cases, while focusing on up-to-date clinical, pathological, and genetic aspects.