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Porcu M, De Silva P, Solinas C, Battaglia A, Schena M, Scartozzi M, Bron D, Suri JS, Willard-Gallo K, Sangiolo D, Saba L. Immunotherapy Associated Pulmonary Toxicity: Biology Behind Clinical and Radiological Features. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11030305. [PMID: 30841554 PMCID: PMC6468855 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11030305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2019] [Revised: 02/17/2019] [Accepted: 02/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The broader use of immune checkpoint blockade in clinical routine challenges clinicians in the diagnosis and management of side effects which are caused by inflammation generated by the activation of the immune response. Nearly all organs can be affected by immune-related toxicities. However, the most frequently reported are: fatigue, rash, pruritus, diarrhea, nausea/vomiting, arthralgia, decreased appetite and abdominal pain. Although these adverse events are usually mild, reversible and not frequent, an early diagnosis is crucial. Immune-related pulmonary toxicity was most frequently observed in trials of lung cancer and of melanoma patients treated with the combination of the anti-cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen (CTLA)-4 and the anti-programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) antibodies. The most frequent immune-related adverse event in the lung is represented by pneumonitis due to the development of infiltrates in the interstitium and in the alveoli. Clinical symptoms and radiological patterns are the key elements to be considered for an early diagnosis, rendering the differential diagnosis crucial. Diagnosis of immune-related pneumonitis may imply the temporary or definitive suspension of immunotherapy, along with the start of immuno-suppressive treatments. The aim of this work is to summarize the biological bases, clinical and radiological findings of lung toxicity under immune checkpoint blockade, underlining the importance of multidisciplinary teams for an optimal early diagnosis of this side effect, with the aim to reach an improved patient care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Porcu
- Department of Radiology, University Hospital of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato (Cagliari), Italy.
| | - Pushpamali De Silva
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Institut Jules Bordet, Universitè Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), 1000 Brussels, Belgium.
- Clinical and Experimental Hematology, Institute Jules Bordet, Universitè Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), 1000 Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Cinzia Solinas
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Institut Jules Bordet, Universitè Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), 1000 Brussels, Belgium.
- Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Regional Hospital of Aosta, 11100 Aosta, Italy.
| | - Angelo Battaglia
- Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Regional Hospital of Aosta, 11100 Aosta, Italy.
| | - Marina Schena
- Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Regional Hospital of Aosta, 11100 Aosta, Italy.
| | - Mario Scartozzi
- Department of Medical Oncology, University Hospital of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato (Cagliari), Italy.
| | - Dominique Bron
- Clinical and Experimental Hematology, Institute Jules Bordet, Universitè Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), 1000 Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Jasjit S Suri
- Lung Diagnostic Division, Global Biomedical Technologies, Inc., Roseville, CA 95661, USA.
- AtheroPoint™ LLC, Roseville, CA 95661, USA.
| | - Karen Willard-Gallo
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Institut Jules Bordet, Universitè Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), 1000 Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Dario Sangiolo
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino, 10043 Orbassano (Torino), Italy.
- Division of Medical Oncology, Experimental Cell Therapy, Candiolo Cancer Institute FPO-IRCCS, 10060 Candiolo (Torino), Italy.
| | - Luca Saba
- Department of Radiology, University Hospital of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato (Cagliari), Italy.
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