National Comprehensive Cancer Network investigational drug service consensus recommendations

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Defining current gaps in quality measures for cancer immunotherapy: consensus report from the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) 2019 Quality Summit

BACKGROUND

Quality measures are important because they can help improve and standardize the delivery of cancer care among healthcare providers and across tumor types. In an environment characterized by a rapidly shifting immunotherapeutic landscape and lack of associated long-term outcome data, defining quality measures for cancer immunotherapy is a high priority yet fraught with many challenges.

METHODS

Thus, the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer convened a multistakeholder expert panel to, first, identify the current gaps in measures of quality cancer care delivery as it relates to immunotherapy and to, second, advance priority concepts surrounding quality measures that could be developed and broadly adopted by the field.

RESULTS

After reviewing the existing quality measure landscape employed for immunotherapeutic-based cancer care, the expert panel identified four relevant National Quality Strategy domains (patient safety, person and family-centered care, care coordination and communication, appropriate treatment selection) with significant gaps in immunotherapy-based quality cancer care delivery. Furthermore, these domains offer opportunities for the development of quality measures as they relate to cancer immunotherapy. These four quality measure concepts are presented in this consensus statement.

CONCLUSIONS

This work represents a first step toward defining and standardizing quality delivery of cancer immunotherapy in order to realize its optimal application and benefit for patients.

P0008CASE REPORT: METABOLIC ALKALOSIS RESULTING IN RESPIRATORY COMPROMISE IN A PATIENT UNDERGOING HIGH DOSE METHOTREXATE THERAPY

Background and Aims

High dose Methotrexate (HDMTX) is an important component of several modern oncological/haematological treatment protocols due to its central nervous system penetrance. Nephrotoxicity represents a significant adverse effect and can limit therapeutic options. Therefore, strategies to prevent this are paramount. Urinary alkalinisation and large volume resuscitation to maintain adequate hydration and urine output are the typical strategies. Urinary alkalinisation prevents tubular precipitation of methotrexate and therefore, a strict urinary pH target of 7 is maintained via a continuous bicarbonate infusion.

Method

We describe a case report, of Iatrogenic metabolic alkalosis leading to respiratory compromise in a patient receiving HDMTX from Mayo Clinic, Rochester.

Results

We present the case of a 76-year-old woman with a Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma with CNS involvement who presented for elective admission for her 1st cycle of HDMTX. She received 7g of Methotrexate at dosing of 8 g/m2. She received the standard urinary alkalinisation with pre- and post-hydration. Her baseline HCO3- was 28 mEq/L. Her 48 hour MTX level was elevated at 1.2 so the urinary alkalinisation protocol was continued until <0.1 mcmol/L. On day 4, she developed frequent episodes of apnoea. Her ABG demonstrated a metabolic alkalaemia pH 7.54, pCO 53, pO2 91, HCO3 45. She was transferred to the ICU for close monitoring. Her bicarbonate infusion was discontinued and she received acetazolamide. Her bicarbonate improved to 31 after 12 hours. She had a significant improvement in her respiratory status with no further episodes of apnoea. Her bicarbonate infusion was restarted due to elevated MTX levels. She was discharged home with no further complications.

Conclusion

Iatrogenic Metabolic alkalosis leading to respiratory compromise represents a rare but important complication of urinary alkalinsation protocols for High-dose Methotrexate therapy.

Acute Interstitial Nephritis and Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy

Background

The objective of this case cohort study was to describe our experience in the care of patients with immune checkpoint inhibitor–related acute interstitial nephritis (ICI-AIN) including rechallenge.

Methods

A descriptive case series of patients that received an ICI and had an AKI (defined as a ≥1.5-fold increase in serum creatinine) as an immune-related adverse event (irAE), with biopsy-proven or clinically suspected ICI-AIN from January 1, 2014 to December 1, 2018 at Mayo Clinic, Rochester. We studied details regarding diagnosis, clinical course, management, and outcomes of rechallenge of immunotherapy. Complete response (CR) was defined as return of kidney function back to baseline or <0.3 mg/dl above baseline creatinine; partial response (PR) was defined as creatinine >0.3 mg/dl from baseline, but less than twofold above the baseline by the end of steroid course.

Results

A total of 14 cases of biopsy-proven (35%) or clinically suspected (65%) ICI-AIN was identified. All patients had their ICI withheld and 12 patients received steroids. Steroid regimens were highly variable. The starting equivalent dose of prednisone was higher in those that had a CR versus a PR (median 0.77 mg/kg versus 0.66 mg/kg). Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) were used in 11 patients and were stopped in eight (73%) patients at the time of the AKI event. A CR was seen in five (63%) of the eight patients who discontinued PPIs. Rechallenge was attempted in four of the 14 patients: three were successful with no recurrence of AKI, but one patient had recurrent AKI and fatal pneumonitis.

Conclusions

Careful review, withholding ICI and concomitant known AIN-inducing medications, along with prompt initial steroid management were the key in complete renal kidney recovery. A kidney biopsy should be strongly considered. Rechallenge of immunotherapy after a kidney irAE, although challenging, is possible and would need careful evaluation on an individual basis.

Podcast

This article contains a podcast at https://www.asn-online.org/media/podcast/K360/2020_01_30_KID0000152019.mp3

Combining Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors With Conventional Cancer Therapy

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have recently revolutionized cancer treatment, providing unprecedented clinical benefits. However, primary or acquired therapy resistance can affect up to two-thirds of patients receiving ICIs, underscoring the urgency to elucidate the mechanisms of treatment resistance and to design more effective therapeutic strategies. Conventional cancer treatments, including cytotoxic chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and targeted therapy, have immunomodulatory effects in addition to direct cancer cell-killing activities. Their clinical utilities in combination with ICIs have been explored, aiming to achieve synergetic effects with improved and durable clinical response. Here, we will review the immunomodulatory effects of chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and radiation therapy, in the setting of ICI, and their clinical implications in reshaping modern cancer immunotherapy.

Neurological Complications Associated With Anti-Programmed Death 1 (PD-1) Antibodies

Importance

Neurological complications are an increasingly recognized consequence of the use of anti-programmed death 1 (PD-1) antibodies in the treatment of solid-organ tumors, with an estimated frequency of 4.2%. To date, the clinical spectrum and optimum treatment approach are not established.

Objective

To investigate the frequency, clinical spectrum, and optimum treatment approach to neurological complications associated with anti-PD-1 therapy.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This single-center, retrospective cohort study was conducted from either September or December 2014 (the approval dates of the study drugs by the US Food and Drug Administration) to May 19, 2016. All patients receiving anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibodies were identified using the Mayo Cancer Pharmacy Database. Patients with development of neurological symptoms within 12 months of anti-PD-1 therapy were included. Patients with neurological complications directly attributable to metastatic disease or other concurrent cancer-related treatments were excluded.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Clinical and pathological characteristics, time to development of neurological symptoms, and modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score.

Results

Among 347 patients treated with anti-PD1 monoclonal antibodies (pembrolizumab or nivolumab), 10 (2.9%) developed subacute onset of neurological complications. Seven patients were receiving pembrolizumab, and 3 patients were receiving nivolumab. The patients included 8 men and 2 women. Their median age was 71 years (age range, 31-78 years). Neurological complications occurred after a median of 5.5 (range, 1-20) cycles of anti-PD-1 inhibitors. Complications included myopathy (n = 2), varied neuropathies (n = 4), cerebellar ataxia (n = 1), autoimmune retinopathy (n = 1), bilateral internuclear ophthalmoplegia (n = 1), and headache (n = 1). Peripheral neuropathies included axonal and demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathies (n = 2), length-dependent neuropathies (n = 1), and asymmetric vasculitic neuropathy (n = 1). The time to maximum symptom severity varied from 1 day to more than 3 months. The median mRS score was 2.5 (range, 1-5), indicating mild to moderate disability. Five patients experienced other systemic immune-mediated complications, including hypothyroidism (n = 3), colitis (n = 2), and hepatitis (n = 1). Treatment with anti-PD-1 antibodies was discontinued in 7 patients. Treatment included corticosteroids (n = 7), intravenous immunoglobulin (n = 3), and plasma exchange (n = 1). Nine patients improved, with a median mRS score of 2 (range, 0-6). One patient with severe necrotizing myopathy died.

Conclusions and Relevance

Neurological adverse events associated with anti-PD-1 therapy have a diverse phenotype, with more frequent neuromuscular complications. Although rare, they will likely be encountered with increasing frequency as anti-PD-1 therapy expands to other cancers. The time of onset is unpredictable, and evolution may be rapid and life-threatening. Prompt recognition and discontinuation of anti-PD-1 therapy is recommended. In some cases, immune rescue treatment may be required.