Pulmonary sarcoidosis induced by the anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody pembrolizumab or post-immunotherapy granulomatous reaction: which is more appropriate terminology?

FDG-PET/CT for the Management of Post-Chemotherapy Residual Mass in Hodgkin lymphoma

Simple Summary

In the present review the authors report the predictive value of FDG/PET-CT (PET) on treatment outcome of Hodgkin lymphoma patients showing a post-chemotherapy residual mass, based on the published reports of PET-guided consolidation radiotherapy after different-intensity chemotherapy regimens such as ABVD or BEACOPP_escalated. A special focus will be dedicated to the role of PET for assessing patients with a residual mass during and after immunotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Finally, the interpretation criteria of PET will be also reviewed, and the role of alternative imaging techniques discussed.

Abstract

In the present review, the authors report the published evidence on the use of functional imaging with FDG-PET/CT in assessing the final response to treatment in Hodgkin lymphoma. Despite a very high overall Negative Predictive Value of post-chemotherapy PET on treatment outcome ranging from 94% to 86%, according to different treatment intensity, the Positive Predicting Value proved much lower (40–25%). In the present review the Authors discuss the role of PET to guide consolidation RT over a RM after different chemotherapy regimens, both in early and in advanced-stage disease. A particular emphasis is dedicated to the peculiar issue of the qualitative versus semi-quantitative methods for End-of Therapy PET scan interpretation. A short hint will be given on the role of FDG-PET to assess the treatment outcome after immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Sarcoidosis mimicking metastases in an echinoderm microtubule-associated protein-like 4 anaplastic lymphoma kinase positive non-small-lung cancer patient: A case report

BACKGROUND

Rearrangements of the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene (ALK-positive) represent an oncogenic driver in approximately 3%-5% of non-small-lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Sarcoidosis is a multisystem disease, and its reported incidence in Asia is 1 or less per 100000 people per year. The co-occurrence of sarcoidosis and ALK-positive NSCLC is rare, and ALK-positive lung cancer is likely to spread quickly. Therefore, the co-occurrence of sarcoidosis is more easily misdiagnosed as metastatic lung cancer by radiological examination.

CASE SUMMARY

A 50-year-old man had a nodule in the left superior lobe, many small nodules in left superior and right lungs, and enlarged bilateral hilar, mediastinal, and right supraclavicular lymph nodes. Computed tomography-guided pulmonary biopsy of the nodule in the left superior lobe revealed echinoderm microtubule-associated protein-like 4 gene-ALK positive NSCLC with concomitant noncaseating granuloma. This patient was treated with crizotinib. Thirty days later, a chest computed tomography scan revealed a dramatic decrease in the size of the left superior lobe nodule; however, the lesions in the right lung progressed. The right supraclavicular lymph nodes showed granulomas, and no tumor cells were identified in the specimens. The angiotensin-converting enzyme level was high. After 1 wk of methylprednisolone treatment, a significant response of all lesions was revealed. Following radical resection of the lung cancer, noncaseating granulomas were observed in both lung tissues and lymph nodes, which resulted in a diagnosis of echinoderm microtubule-associated protein-like 4-ALK positive NSCLC accompanied with sarcoidosis.

CONCLUSION

Our experience illustrates that pathological evidence is needed to confirm metastatic disease, especially when some suspected metastatic lesions are negative for malignancy.

68-months progression-free survival with crizotinib treatment in a patient with metastatic ALK positive lung adenocarcinoma and sarcoidosis: A case report

INTRODUCTION

Lung cancer still ranks first among the most common and most lethal cancers today. The most common subtype is non-small cell lung cancer, and in this group, adenocarcinoma has the worst prognosis. EGFR, ROS1 and ALK-EML4 gene fusion mutations are common in non-small cell lung cancer.

CASE REPORT

A 62-year-old non-smoker patient applied in February 2014 for purulent sputum and pain in the chest. Computed tomography revealed a 39x33 mm mass in the right hilum, multiple parenchymal nodules in the bilateral lung and mediastinal multiple enlarged lymph nodes. The patient was admitted to the lung adenocarcinoma as a result of a biopsy from the mass in the hilum, and sarcoidosis was diagnosed by mediastinal lymph node biopsy.

MANAGEMENT & OUTCOME

After 4 cycles of carboplatin-pemetrexed for the first line treatment, progression was detected. The patient did not have EGFR and ROS1 mutations. The patient with positive ALK fusion mutation started crizotinib treatment in July 2014. The patient's last response assessment was in March 2020, with 68-progression-free disease with crizotinib. No toxicity was observed except for Grade 1 weakness. No dose changes were made. The patient is still being followed up without brain metastasis under the treatment of crizotinib.

DISCUSSION

In this article, we wanted to share our experience of crizotinib in a 68-months progression-free survival in a 62-years old non-smoking female patient with metastatic lung adenocarcinoma who is also diagnosed with sarcoidosis.

A sarcoidosis clinician's perspective of MHC functional elements outside the antigen binding site

Sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disease of unknown cause. Evidence supports an integral role for interactions at the MHC binding site in the development of sarcoidosis. However, despite this evidence, there are clinical data that suggest that additional mechanisms are involved in the immunopathogenesis of this disease. This manuscript provides a brief clinical description of sarcoidosis, and a clinician's perspective of the immunopathogenesis of sarcoidosis in terms of the MHC binding site, MHC functional elements beyond the binding site, and other possible alternative mechanisms. Input from clinicians will be essential in establishing the immunologic cause of sarcoidosis as a detailed phenotypic characterization of disease will be required.

Drug-Induced Sarcoidosis-Like Reactions

A drug-induced sarcoidosis-like reaction (DISR) is a systemic granulomatous reaction that is indistinguishable from sarcoidosis and occurs in a temporal relationship with initiation of an offending drug. DISRs typically improve or resolve after withdrawal of the offending drug. Four common categories of drugs that have been associated with the development of a DISR are immune checkpoint inhibitors, highly active antiretroviral therapy, interferons, and tumor necrosis factor-α antagonists. Similar to sarcoidosis, DISRs do not necessarily require treatment because they may cause no significant symptoms, quality of life impairment, or organ dysfunction. When treatment of a DISR is required, standard antisarcoidosis regimens seem to be effective. Because a DISR tends to improve or resolve when the offending drug is discontinued, this is another effective treatment for a DISR. However, the offending drug need not be discontinued if it is useful, and antigranulomatous therapy can be added. In some situations, the development of a DISR may suggest a beneficial effect of the inducing drug. Understanding the mechanisms leading to DISRs may yield important insights into the immunopathogenesis of sarcoidosis.

Granulomatous and lichenoid dermatitis after IgG4 anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody therapy for advanced cancer

Nivolumab is a fully human IgG4 monoclonal antibody directed against programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1). PD-1 inhibition allows T-cell activation and recruitment to destroy cancer cells. Checkpoint inhibitors have shown significant survival advantage and relatively low side-effects in comparison with conventional chemotherapy in several types of advanced cancer. Granulomatous cutaneous reactions have been reported showing sarcoidal and panniculitic morphology. Here we present a case of drug-induced lichenoid and granulomatous dermatitis after checkpoint inhibitor therapy observed in a 63-year-old male treated with nivolumab for advanced glioblastoma. This morphology has not been previously reported. We documented a high number of CD8+ T-cells within the lesions. Additionally, we review the side-effects observed with the use of checkpoint inhibitors, with special focus on cutaneous manifestations.

Pembrolizumab-induced pneumonitis

Immune checkpoint inhibitors are promising new therapies for advanced cancers. In particular, antibodies against programmed cell death 1 (PD-1), such as nivolumab and pembrolizumab, increase anti-tumour T cell responses by blocking the interaction between PD-1 on T cells and its ligand PD-L1 on cancer cells [1]. Enhanced T-cell responses resulting from checkpoint inhibition can lead to an unusual spectrum of side effects called immune-related adverse events, which involve numerous organs, particularly the skin, liver, and gastrointestinal and endocrine systems [2–11]. Pneumonitis is a potentially lethal side effect of immune checkpoint inhibition, occurring in 1–5% of patients enrolled in trials [2–11]. However, little is known about the clinical and radiological features of checkpoint inhibitor-induced lung disease. Here, we report three cases of pembrolizumab-induced acute interstitial lung disease (ILD). The medical data of the patients presented below were collected in accordance with French regulations, none of which was opposed to their uses.

Three cases of pembrolizumab-induced pneumonitis are described, two being consistent with organising pneumoniahttp://ow.ly/Dvhc308QI39

Pembrolizumab use for the treatment of advanced melanoma

INTRODUCTION

Until recently, overall long term survival in patients with stage IV melanoma was lower than 10%. However, the treatment of melanoma has evolved rapidly over the last few years, with the advent of inhibitors of BRAF and MEK and of immunotherapeutic agents including ipilimumab, nivolumab, and pembrolizumab. Areas covered: This is a comprehensive review of the literature on the role of pembrolizumab in melanoma. Pembrolizumab is a Programmed Death Receptor 1 (PD-1) directed monoclonal antibody which is approved by FDA and EMA for the treatment of patients with metastatic melanoma. Expert opinion: Phase II and III trials demonstrated that pembrolizumab is superior to ipilimumab in previously untreated patients and to chemotherapy in ipilimumab pre-treated patients. Unfortunately, prospectively validated predictive markers are lacking. Immune-related adverse events are particularly interesting and should be managed per the published guidelines. There are still many issues that remain unresolved including: when to stop treatment, biomarkers for choosing a single agent or combination therapy, the optimal schedule of ipilimumab in combination with anti-PD1 monoclonal antibodies, optimal management of adverse events, the role of immunotherapy in specific populations, the optimal sequence of immunotherapy and the BRAF/MEK inhibitor combination in patients.