The cancer immunotherapy environment may confound the utility of anti-TIF-1γ in differentiating between paraneoplastic and treatment-related dermatomyositis. Report of a case and review of the literature

Paraneoplastic dermatomyositis associated with urothelial cancer: report of a case and systematic review of the literature

Background

The idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) are a collection of autoimmune diseases that have a substantial impact on the entire body and include conditions such as dermatomyositis (DM), polymyositis (PM), sporadic inclusion body myositis, and immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy. These disorders are characterized by symptoms such as muscular weakness, pain, and dermal rash. This systematic review is intended to explore the potential link between bladder cancer and DM/PM.

Methods

We performed a comprehensive systematic search on PubMed and Scopus until August 2022 to identify relevant research studies. The studies that met our inclusion criteria focused on patients with urinary bladder cancer and dermatomyositis, and/or polymyositis.

Results

The patients' median age was 65.5 years (47-79), with the majority being male (15, 39.47%). Bladder cancer manifested before PM/DM in 5 (13.15%) patients, while in the majority of cases occurred after the cancer diagnosis. The stage of cancer at the time of the initial PM/DM diagnosis were mostly locally (11/20, 50%).During the first presentation, the patients had a median creatine kinase level of 2227 U/L, ranging between 44 and 10471. In one case, anti-TIF-1γ antibodies were found to be present. Among the cases with reported medical history (20/38), treatment immediately improved DM symptoms in 16 patients(53.8%) and in 3 patients(15%), symptoms of DM resurfaced during the period after the operation. Death was reported in 14 (36.8%) patients.

Conclusion

In conclusion, our study provides knowledge and understanding for identifying specific risk factors in patients with the coexistence of bladder cancer and DM/PM and their management. During the initial and follow-up screening, age, gender, and the clinicopathological subgroup of myositis should be considered to ensure proper management of the condition.

Adverse cutaneous toxicities by PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint inhibitors: Pathogenesis, Treatment, and Surveillance

Introduction-The therapeutic use of humanized monoclonal programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) (pembrolizumab, and nivolumab) and programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1) (atezolizumab, avelumab, durvalumab) immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICPi) as potent anticancer therapies is rapidly increasing. The mechanism of signaling of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 involves triggering cytotoxic CD4+/CD8 + T cell activation and subsequent abolition of cancer cells which induces specific immunologic adverse events that are specific to these therapies. These drugs can cause numerous cutaneous reactions and are characterized as the most frequent immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Majority of cutaneous irAEs range from nonspecific eruptions to detectible skin manifestations, which may be self-limiting and present acceptable skin toxicity profiles, while some may produce life-threatening complications.Objective-.This review aims to illuminate the associated cutaneous irAEs related to drugs used in oncology along with the relevant mechanism(s) and management.Areas covered-Literature was searched using various databases including Pub-Med, Google Scholar, and Medline. The search mainly involved research articles, retrospective studies, case reports, and clinicopathological findings. With this review article, an overview of the cutaneous irAEs with anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy, as well as suggestions, have been provided, so that their recognition at early stages could help in better management and would prevent treatment discontinuation.Article highlightsCutaneous adverse effects are the most prevalent immune-related adverse events induced by anti-PD-1/PD-L1 immune-checkpoint antibodies.Cutaneous toxicities mainly manifest in the form of maculopapular rash and pruritus.More specific cutaneous complications can also occur, including vitiligo, worsened psoriasis, lichenoid dermatitis, mucosal involvement (e.g., oral lichenoid reaction), dermatomyositis, lupus erythematosus.Cutaneous manifestations can be life-threatening including Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN).Dermatologic toxicities are usually mild, readily manageable, and rarely result in significant morbidity.Adequate management of the cutaneous adverse event and recognition in early stages could lead to the prevention of worsening of the lesions and limit treatment disruption.

Anti-transcription intermediary factor 1 gamma (TIF1γ) antibody-positive dermatomyositis associated with ascending colon cancer: a case report and review of the literature

Background

Anti-transcriptional intermediary factor 1 gamma (TIF1γ) antibody is a marker for predicting cancer association in patients with dermatomyositis (DM). The overall survival rate in DM patients with cancer was reported to be considerably worse than that in DM patients without cancer. However, the treatment for cancer-associated DM remains controversial, because the treatment priority between surgical resection for the tumor and internal treatments, including glucocorticoids, immunosuppressive agents, and intravenous immune globulin, has not been established.

Case presentation

We report the case of a 57-year-old Japanese man diagnosed with anti-TIF1γ antibody-positive DM associated with ascending colon cancer. His clinical symptoms included facial and brachial edema, muscle weakness, dysphagia, myalgia, and rash. Physical examination revealed periorbital edema and Gottron's papules over his knuckles with brachial edema, and tenderness and weakness of the proximal limb muscles. The findings of hyperintense muscles in T2-weighted sequences of brachial contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging and the infiltration of lymphocytic cells and CD4-positive lymphocytes from muscle biopsy were compatible with the diagnostic criteria for dermatomyositis. Anti-TIF1γ antibody was positive by immunoprecipitation assay. He first started internal treatment including intravenous immunoglobulin, steroid pulse, prednisolone, and azathioprine, followed by surgical resection for the tumor because of the elevation of creatine kinase and progression of dysphagia. However, clinical symptoms did not improve, and the patient died 6 months later.

Conclusions

We faced difficulties in determining the treatment priority between surgical resection and internal treatment for our case; therefore, this case would be educational for readers. We searched PubMed to identify English-language case reports of anti-TIF1γ antibody-positive dermatomyositis with malignancy and found 21 reported cases. We herein review and summarize previously reported cases of anti-TIF1γ antibody-positive DM with malignancy. Cancer screening is essential in patients with anti-TIF1γ antibody-positive dermatomyositis because it is associated with a high prevalence of malignancies. Our review revealed that initial surgical treatment should be recommended for better prognosis if the general condition allows.