Extending the dosing intervals of nivolumab: model-based simulations in unselected cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: Reducing nivolumab dose intensity could increase patients' life quality and decrease the financial burden while maintaining efficacy. The aims of this study were to develop a population PK model of nivolumab based on data from unselected metastatic cancer patients and to simulate extended-interval regimens allowing to maintain minimal effective plasma concentrations (MEPC). METHODS: Concentration-time data (992 plasma nivolumab concentrations, 364 patients) were modeled using a two-compartment model with linear elimination clearance in Monolix software. Extended-interval regimens allowing to maintain steady-state trough concentrations (Cmin,ss) above the MEPC of 2.5 mg/L or 1.5 mg/L in >90% of patients were simulated. RESULTS: Increasing 3-times the dosing interval from 240 mg every two weeks (Q2W) to Q6W and 2-times from 480 mg Q4W to Q8W resulted in Cmin,ss above 2.5 mg/L in 95.8% and 95.4% of patients, respectively. 240 mg Q8W and 480 mg Q10W resulted in Cmin,ss above 1.5 mg/L in 91.0% and 91.8% of patients, respectively. Selection of a 240 mg Q6W regimen would decrease by 3-fold the annual treatment costs compared to standard regimen of 240 mg Q2W (from 78,744€ to 26,248€ in France). CONCLUSIONS: Clinical trials are warranted to confirm the non-inferiority of extended-interval compared to standard regimen.

Neurological outcomes in immune checkpoint inhibitor-related neurotoxicity.

While the spectrum of neurological immune checkpoint inhibitor-related adverse events is expanding, patients' outcomes are not well documented. This study aimed to assess outcomes of neurological immune-related adverse events and to identify prognostic factors. All patients experiencing grade ≥2 neurological immune-related adverse events identified at two clinical networks (French Reference Center for Paraneoplastic Neurological Syndromes, Lyon; and OncoNeuroTox, Paris) over five years were included. Modified Rankin scores were assessed at onset, 6, 12, 18 months, and last visit. A multi-state Markov model was used to estimate the transition rates between minor disability (mRS <3), severe disability (mRS 3-5), and death (mRS 6), over the study period. The state-to-state transition rates were estimated using maximum likelihood and variables were introduced into the different transitions to study their effects. A total of 147 patients were included out of 205 patients with a suspicion of neurological immune-related adverse events. The median age was 65 years (range 20-87) and 87/147 patients (59.2%) were male. Neurological immune-related adverse events involved the peripheral nervous system in 87/147 patients (59.2%), the central nervous system in 51/147 (34.7%), and both systems in 9/147 (6.1%). Paraneoplastic-like syndromes were observed in 30/147 patients (20.4%). Cancers included lung cancers (36.1%), melanoma (30.6%), urological cancers (15.6%), and others (17.8%). Patients were treated with programmed cell death protein (ligan) 1 (PD(L)1) inhibitors (70.1%), CTLA4 inhibitors (3.4%) or both (25.9%). Severe disability was reported in 108/144 patients (75.0%) at onset and in 33/146 patients (22.6%) at last visit (median follow-up duration: 12 months, range 0.5-50); 48/147 (32.7%) patients died, from cancer progression (17/48, 35.4%), neurological toxicity (15/48, 31.2%), other causes (10/48, 20.8%) or unknown causes (6/48, 12.5%). The rate of transition from severe to minor disability independently increased with melanoma [compared to lung cancer, hazard ratio = 3.26, 95%CI (1.27; 8.41)] and myositis/neuromuscular junction disorders [hazard ratio = 8.26, 95%CI (2.90; 23.58)], and decreased with older age [hazard ratio = 0.68, 95%CI (0.47; 0.99)] and paraneoplastic-like syndromes [hazard ratio = 0.29, 95%CI (0.09; 0.98)]. In patients with neurological immune-related adverse events, myositis/neuromuscular junction disorders and melanoma increase the transition rate from severe to minor disability, while older age and paraneoplastic-like syndromes result in poorer neurological outcomes; future studies are needed to optimize the management of such patients.

Which first-line treatment for cutaneous sarcoidosis? A retrospective study of 120 patients.

Sarcoidosis is a systemic disease that affects the skin in about 25% of patients. The treatment of cutaneous sarcoidosis is guided by the extent of lesions, associated symptoms and organ involvement. To evaluate rates of response to various potential first-line treatments for cutaneous sarcoidosis during the year following treatment initiation. This retrospective multicentre study included 120 patients with cutaneous sarcoidosis. Treatment response was assessed retrospectively from the patients' medical records. Univariate logistic regression analysis, with an estimation of unadjusted odds ratios (OR) and their 95% CI ,was performed to identify factors associated with complete cutaneous remission (CR), followed by multivariate logistic regression analysis. At one year, 43 of the 120 (36%) included patients had CR. The best response rates were obtained with oral corticosteroids (12/21, 57%), followed by a combination of hydroxychloroquine and topical steroids (6/13, 46%). In multivariate analysis, lupus pernio was the only predictor of a poor cutaneous response. We suggest the use of a combination of hydroxychloroquine and topical steroids as an optimal first-line treatment for cutaneous sarcoidosis, given the known adverse effects of systemic corticosteroids.

Primary Cutaneous Mucinous Carcinoma Monitoring: A Role for CA15.3 and CEA?

Primary cutaneous mucinous carcinoma (PCMC) is a rare malignant skin adnexal tumor. Recurrences are most often localized, and long-term follow-up after complete surgery consists essentially of self-examination of skin. We report one case of metastatic PCMC with elevated levels of serum CEA and CA15.3. Because of the difficulty to differentiate PCMC and metastasis of mucinous breast cancer, the hypothesis of a metastasized breast cancer was ruled out. These tumor markers contributed to the monitoring of the metastatic disease. Since metastatic disease was diagnosed after several years of seeming complete remission, CEA and CA15.3 would likely have allowed the clinicians to detect the relapse earlier. Although the use of tumor biomarkers in PCMC is not rooted in clinical practice and not mentioned in guidelines, we suggest that CEA and CA15.3 could be of particular interest to monitor and detect early metastatic PCMC.

Anti-Interleukin-6 and Janus Kinase Inhibitors for Severe Neurologic Toxicity of Checkpoint Inhibitors.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To describe the marked clinical and biological responses of a targeted treatment with anti-interleukin-6 (IL-6)-receptor antibody and Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors in a patient with a severe, corticoresistant CNS toxicity of immune-checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy. METHODS: A 58-year-old man was admitted for subacute paraparesis, urinary retention, and ascending paresthesia. He was under treatment with ipilimumab and nivolumab for metastatic melanoma. Spine MRI disclosed multiple T2-hyperintense, contrast-enhancing longitudinally extensive lesions. A diagnosis of ICI-related acute transverse myelitis was made. RESULTS: ICIs were immediately discontinued, and the patient received high-dose glucocorticoids plus 1 session of plasma exchange, but he did not improve. Based on the marked elevation of CSF IL-6 (505 pg/mL), a second-line targeted therapy with anti-IL-6-receptor tocilizumab (8 mg/kg/mo for 3 infusions) plus JAK inhibitor ruxolitinib (50 mg/d) was administered. Patient neurologic status started to improve shortly after, with corresponding radiologic resolution. At 9 months, the patient was able to walk independently, presenting only slight residual disability while remaining in oncologic partial response. DISCUSSION: Our case suggests that some patients with severe, corticoresistant CNS immune-related toxicities of ICIs may benefit from cytokine blockade. Cytokine measurement in serum and CSF might help in selecting patients for personalized treatment strategies.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors increase T cell immunity during SARS-CoV-2 infection.

The COVID-19 pandemic has spread worldwide, yet the role of antiviral T cell immunity during infection and the contribution of immune checkpoints remain unclear. By prospectively following a cohort of 292 patients with melanoma, half of which treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), we identified 15 patients with acute or convalescent COVID-19 and investigated their transcriptomic, proteomic, and cellular profiles. We found that ICI treatment was not associated with severe COVID-19 and did not alter the induction of inflammatory and type I interferon responses. In-depth phenotyping demonstrated expansion of CD8 effector memory T cells, enhanced T cell activation, and impaired plasmablast induction in ICI-treated COVID-19 patients. The evaluation of specific adaptive immunity in convalescent patients showed higher spike (S), nucleoprotein (N), and membrane (M) antigen-specific T cell responses and similar induction of spike-specific antibody responses. Our findings provide evidence that ICI during COVID-19 enhanced T cell immunity without exacerbating inflammation.

Cemiplimab for Locally Advanced and Metastatic Cutaneous Squamous-Cell Carcinomas: Real-Life Experience from the French CAREPI Study Group.

Although cemiplimab has been approved for locally advanced (la) and metastatic (m) cutaneous squamous-cell carcinomas (CSCCs), its real-life value has not yet been demonstrated. An early-access program enrolled patients with la/mCSCCs to receive cemiplimab. Endpoints were best overall response rate (BOR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), duration of response (DOR) and safety. The 245 patients (mean age 77 years, 73% male, 49% prior systemic treatment, 24% immunocompromised, 27% Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (PS) ≥ 2) had laCSCCs (35%) or mCSCCs (65%). For the 240 recipients of ≥1 infusion(s), the BOR was 50.4% (complete, 21%; partial, 29%). With median follow-up at 12.6 months, median PFS was 7.9 months, and median OS and DOR were not reached. One-year OS was 73% versus 36%, respectively, for patients with PS < 2 versus ≥ 2. Multivariate analysis retained PS ≥ 2 as being associated during the first 6 months with PFS and OS. Head-and-neck location was associated with longer PFS. Immune status had no impact. Severe treatment-related adverse events occurred in 9% of the patients, including one death from toxic epidermal necrolysis. Cemiplimab real-life safety and efficacy support its use for la/mCSCCs. Patients with PS ≥ 2 benefited less from cemiplimab, but it might represent an option for immunocompromised patients.

Avelumab expanded access program in metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma: Efficacy and safety findings from patients in Europe and the Middle East.

Incidence rates of Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), an uncommon skin cancer with an aggressive disease course, have increased in recent decades. Limited treatment options are available for patients with metastatic MCC (mMCC). Avelumab, an anti-programmed cell death-ligand 1 monoclonal antibody, became the first approved treatment for mMCC after the results of the phase 2 JAVELIN Merkel 200 study. Prior to its regulatory approval, an expanded access program (EAP) enabled compassionate use of avelumab in patients with mMCC. Here we report findings from patients enrolled in the EAP in Europe and the Middle East. Efficacy and safety data were provided at the discretion of treating physicians. Between March 2, 2016, and December 22, 2018, 403 requests for avelumab were received from 21 countries, and avelumab was supplied to 335 patients. Most patients (96.7%) received avelumab as second-line or later treatment. In 150 patients for whom response data were available, the objective response rate was 48.0%, and in responding patients, median duration of treatment was 7.4 months (range, 1.0-41.7 months). The most common treatment-related adverse events were infusion-related reaction (2.4%) and pyrexia (2.1%), and no new safety signals were observed. Overall, results from European and Middle Eastern patients enrolled in this EAP confirm the efficacy and safety of avelumab treatment observed in previous studies in patients with mMCC.

Ocular Safety Profile of BRAF and MEK Inhibitors: Data from the World Health Organization Pharmacovigilance Database.

PURPOSE: BRAF inhibitors (BRAFi) and MEK inhibitors (MEKi) significantly improved metastatic melanoma prognosis. Ocular adverse effects (OAEs) represent an uncommon but disabling toxicity of these drugs. We aimed to characterize the ocular safety profile of BRAFi or MEKi and to detect possible safety signals. METHODS: We performed a retrospective, observational, pharmacovigilance study using VigiBase, the World Health Organization global safety database. Ocular adverse effects were classified according to the eye segments and the inflammatory pattern based on the Standardization of Uveitis Nomenclature. Associations among BRAFi monotherapy, MEKi monotherapy, and BRAFi+MEKi combination therapy and OAE reporting were assessed using disproportionality analysis. Results were expressed with the reporting odds ratio (ROR) and its 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: From January 2010 to October 2019, 1568 OAE cases were reported with BRAFi or MEKi. Among them, 1006 cases with sufficient data were included, corresponding to 310 (30.8%), 124 (12.3%), and 572 (56.9%) cases reported with BRAFi, MEKi, or BRAFi+MEKi combination therapy, respectively. BRAF inhibitor monotherapy was significantly associated with the reporting of iris and ciliary body abnormalities (ROR, 8.7; 95% CI, 6.0-12.5), diffuse abnormalities (ROR, 7.1; 95% CI, 5.4-9.4), anterior uveitis (ROR, 8.6; 95% CI, 6.0-12.1), and panuveitis (ROR, 7.1; 95% CI, 5.4-9.4). MEK inhibitor monotherapy was associated with the reporting of retinal and choroid abnormalities (ROR, 9.5; 95% CI, 7.4-12.2), diffuse abnormalities (ROR, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.1-6.1), and panuveitis (ROR, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.1-6.1). Combinations of BRAFi and MEKi therapies were associated with OAEs from both drugs, with a possible synergistic or additive effect for diffuse abnormalities and panuveitis. CONCLUSIONS: Our study characterizes the ocular safety profile of BRAFi and MEKi. We identify possible safety signals for several OAEs not previously reported with BRAFi and MEKi. Our data provide the rationale for a personalized management of OAE in patients with BRAFi+MEKi combination therapy according to the type of ocular reaction.

Longitudinally Extensive Myelitis Associated With Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors.

OBJECTIVE: To define the characteristics and the outcome of myelitis associated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). METHODS: We performed a retrospective research in the databases of the French Pharmacovigilance Agency and the OncoNeuroTox network for patients who developed myelitis following treatment with ICIs (2011-2020). A systematic review of the literature was performed to identify similar cases. RESULTS: We identified 7 patients who developed myelitis after treatment with ICIs (anti-PD1 [n = 6], anti-PD1 + anti-CTLA4 [n = 1]). Neurologic symptoms included paraparesis (100%), sphincter dysfunction (86%), tactile/thermic sensory disturbances (71%), and proprioceptive ataxia (43%). At the peak of symptom severity, all patients were nonambulatory. MRI typically showed longitudinally extensive lesions, with patchy contrast enhancement. CSF invariably showed inflammatory findings. Five patients (71%) had clinical and/or paraclinical evidence of concomitant cerebral, meningeal, caudal roots, and/or peripheral nerve involvement. Despite the prompt discontinuation of ICIs and administration of high-dose glucocorticoids (n = 7), most patients needed second-line immune therapies (n = 5) because of poor recovery or early relapses. At last follow-up, only 3 patients had regained an ambulatory status (43%). Literature review identified 13 previously reported cases, showing similar clinical and paraclinical features. All patients discontinued ICIs and received high-dose glucocorticoids, with the addition of other immune therapies in 8. Clinical improvement was reported for 10 patients. CONCLUSION: Myelitis is a rare but severe complication of ICIs that shows limited response to glucocorticoids. Considering the poor functional outcome associated with longitudinally extensive myelitis, strong and protracted immune therapy combinations are probably needed upfront to improve patient outcome and prevent early relapses.

Simultaneous quantification of dabrafenib, hydroxy-dabrafenib and trametinib in human plasma by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

A new liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for the simultaneous quantification of dabrafenib (DAB), its main metabolite hydroxy-dabrafenib (OHD) and trametinib (TRA) in human plasma has been developed and validated. After addition of internal standard (dabrafenib-d9), extraction was achieved after protein precipitation with acetonitrile containing 1 % (v/v) formic acid. Chromatographic separation was performed on an Accucore® C18 (2.1 × 50 mm; 2.6 µm) column using a gradient elution of water acidified with 0.1 % (v/v) formic acid (A) and acetonitrile containing 0.1 % (v/v) formic acid (B) at a flow rate of 500 µL/min. The calibration ranged from 10 to 2000 ng/mL for DAB and OHD and from 5 to 50 ng/mL for TRA. This method was validated with satisfactory results including good precision (intra- and inter-assay coefficient of variation from 2.0 %-14.9 %) and good accuracy (inter- and intra-day bias between -1.2 % and 10.9 %), as well as long term stability in unprocessed plasma at -20 °C. This newly proposed method is useful for clinical research purposes as well as therapeutic drug monitoring for patients with a Rapidly Accelerated Fibrosarcoma kinase B (BRAF)-mutated cancer.

Association of Anti-Programmed Cell Death 1 Antibody Treatment With Risk of Recurrence of Toxic Effects After Immune-Related Adverse Events of Ipilimumab in Patients With Metastatic Melanoma.

Importance: Since 2011, many patients with metastatic melanoma have been treated with ipilimumab therapy and have developed severe immune-related adverse events (AEs). Because several immune therapies are now available to treat metastatic melanoma, a better knowledge of mechanisms and recurrence risks of immune-related AEs is needed before reintroduction of immunotherapies. Objectives: To evaluate the risk of a recurrence of immune toxic effects associated with anti-programmed cell death 1 antibody (anti-PD-1) therapy after discontinuation of ipilimumab monotherapy because of severe AEs. Design, Settings, and Participants: This cohort study conducted at 19 French melanoma referral centers included patients with metastatic melanoma who experienced severe immune-related AEs after ipilimumab therapy and then were treated with anti-PD-1 therapy between February 1, 2013, and December 31, 2016. The study cutoff was June 1, 2017. Statistical analysis was performed from June 1, 2016, to August 31, 2017. Exposures: Monotherapy with at least 1 cycle of ipilimumab that was associated with a grade 3 or 4 immune-related AE and subsequent treatment with at least 1 cycle of an anti-PD-1 (nivolumab or pembrolizumab) therapy. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was the rate of immune-related AEs associated with anti-PD-1 therapy. Secondary outcomes were characteristics of ipilimumab-related and anti-PD-1 immune-related AEs and overall response rate and overall survival associated with anti-PD-1 therapy. Results: Of 56 patients with metastatic melanoma included in the study, all of whom experienced severe immune-related AEs after ipilimumab therapy (31 [55%] male; mean [SD] age, 64 [14.9] years), 20 (36%) experienced at least 1 immune-related AE associated with pembrolizumab (6 of 20 [30%]) or nivolumab (14 of 20 [70%]) therapy. A total of 12 patients (21%) experienced grade 3 or 4 immune-related AEs, and among these patients, 4 (33%) presented with the same immune-related AE as with ipilimumab therapy. Severe immune-related AEs were resolved with use of systemic corticosteroids (7 [58%]) and/or anti-tumor necrosis factor (1 [8%]), and no grade 5 toxic effects were reported. Five patients discontinued anti-PD-1 therapy because of immune-related AEs. The overall response rate was 43%, with a median overall survival of 21 months (interquartile range, 18 to ongoing). Conclusions and Relevance: The findings suggest that anti-PD-1 therapy may be associated with reduced risk of toxic effects and improved survival among patients who have experienced severe toxic effects after ipilimumab therapy.

Population Pharmacokinetics/Pharmacodynamics of Dabrafenib Plus Trametinib in Patients with BRAF-Mutated Metastatic Melanoma.

Patients treated with dabrafenib/trametinib (DAB/TRA) exhibit a large interindividual variability in clinical outcomes. The aims of this study were to characterize the pharmacokinetics of DAB, hydroxy-dabrafenib (OHD), and TRA in BRAF-mutated patients and to investigate the exposure-response relationship for toxicity and efficacy in metastatic melanoma (MM) patients. Univariate Fisher and Wilcoxon models including drug systemic exposure (area under the plasma concentration curve, AUC) were used to identify prognostic factors for the onset of dose-limiting toxicities (DLT), and Cox models for overall (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). Seventy-three BRAF-mutated patients were included in pharmacokinetic (n = 424, NONMEM) and 52 in pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic analyses. Age and sex were identified as determinants of DAB and OHD clearances (p < 0.01). MM patients experiencing DLT were overexposed to DAB compared to patients without DLT (AUC: 9624 vs. 7485 ng∙h/mL, respectively, p < 0.01). Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (ECOG PS) ≥ 2 and plasma ratio AUCOHD/AUCDAB ≥ 1 were independently associated with shorter OS (HR: 6.58 (1.29-33.56); p = 0.023 and 10.61 (2.34-48.15), p = 0.022, respectively). A number of metastatic sites ≥3 and cerebral metastases were associated with shorter PFS (HR = 3.25 (1.11-9.50); p = 0.032 and HR = 1.23 (1.35-10.39), p = 0.011; respectively). TRA plasma exposure was neither associated with toxicity nor efficacy. Our results suggest that early drug monitoring could be helpful to prevent the onset of DLT in MM patients, especially in fragile patients such as the elderly. Regarding efficacy, the clinical benefit to monitor plasma ratio AUCOHD/AUCDAB deserves more investigation in a larger cohort of MM patients.

Induced sarcoid-like reactions in patients with metastatic melanoma treated with dabrafenib and trametinib: a monocentric retrospective study.

Combined BRAF and MEK inhibition is one of the first-line treatment strategies for patients with advanced BRAF-mutant melanoma. Sarcoid-like reactions (SLRs) have occasionally been described with melanoma systemic treatments such as immunotherapy or the BRAF inhibitor vemurafenib, but very few cases have been reported with dabrafenib and trametinib. Our aim was to better characterize SLR induced by this combination. We conducted a monocentric retrospective observational study among patients treated with dabrafenib and trametinib for BRAF-mutant advanced melanoma from January 2015 to March 2019. Patients presenting with histologically proven SLR were included. We also searched Medline database for all reported cases of SLR induced by targeted therapy. Of 63 patients on dabrafenib/trametinib combination, seven were diagnosed with a SLR. They all had specific cutaneous involvement, and one also displayed mediastinal and salivary glands involvement. None required systemic corticosteroids or dabrafenib/trametinib discontinuation. Three of them (43%) reached melanoma complete remission and are still on targeted therapy; and four patients progressed and died. A literature review yielded 22 additional cases of SLR induced by targeted therapy: the main affected organ was the skin, 11 patients (50%) had systemic involvement, five patients (23%) required systemic corticosteroids to reach partial or complete remission of SLR, 12 (55%) reached partial or complete response of melanoma while six (27%) progressed. BRAF and MEK inhibitors are potential triggers of SLR, although pathological mechanisms remain unclear. The mainstay of treatment is systemic or topical corticotherapy; targeted therapy discontinuation is usually not necessary.

The tumor inflammation signature (TIS) is associated with anti-PD-1 treatment benefit in the CERTIM pan-cancer cohort.

BACKGROUND: The 18-gene tumor inflammation signature (TIS) is a clinical research assay that enriches for clinical benefit to immune checkpoint blockade. We evaluated its ability to predict clinical benefit of immunotherapy in cancer patients treated with PD-1 checkpoint inhibitors in routine clinical care. METHODS: The CERTIM cohort is a prospective cohort which includes patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors in Cochin University hospital. RNA extracted from 58 archival formalin fixed paraffin embedded tumor blocks (including 38 lung cancers, 5 melanomas, 10 renal carcinomas, 4 urothelial carcinomas and 1 colon carcinoma) was hybridized to a beta version of the NanoString® PanCancer IO360™ CodeSet using nCounter® technology. Gene expression signatures were correlated with tumor responses (by RECIST criteria) and overall survival. PD-L1 immunostaining on tumor cells was assessed in 37 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) samples and tumor mutational burden (TMB) measured by whole exome sequencing in 19 of these. RESULTS: TIS scores were significantly associated with complete or partial response to anti-PD-1 treatment in the whole cohort (odds ratio = 2.64, 95% CI [1.4; 6.0], p = 0.008), as well as in the NSCLC population (odds ratio = 3.27, 95% CI [1.2; 11.6], p = 0.03). Patients whose tumor had a high TIS score (upper tertile) showed prolonged overall survival compared to patients whose tumor had lower TIS scores, both in the whole cohort (hazard ratio = 0.37, 95% CI [0.18, 0.76], p = 0.005) and in the NSCLC population (hazard ratio = 0.36, 95% CI [0.14, 0.90], p = 0.02). In the latter, the TIS score was independent from either PD-L1 staining on tumor cells (spearman coefficient 0.2) and TMB (spearman coefficient - 0.2). CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that validated gene expression assay measuring the level of tumor microenvironment inflammation such as TIS, are accurate and independent predictive biomarkers and can be easily implemented in the clinical practice.

Safety and Efficacy of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Patients With Cancer and Preexisting Autoimmune Disease: A Nationwide, Multicenter Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) for cancer therapy frequently induce immune-related adverse effects (IRAEs). Therefore, most patients with preexisting autoimmune diseases have been excluded from clinical trials of ICIs. This study was undertaken to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ICIs in patients with preexisting autoimmune disease and cancer. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted from January 2017 to January 2018 via 3 French national networks of experts in oncology and autoimmunity. Adults with preexisting autoimmune disease who were receiving ICIs were assessed for the occurrence of flare of preexisting autoimmune disease, other IRAEs, and cancer response. RESULTS: The study included 112 patients who were followed up for a median of 8 months. The most frequent preexisting autoimmune diseases were psoriasis (n = 31), rheumatoid arthritis (n = 20), and inflammatory bowel disease (n = 14). Twenty-four patients (22%) were receiving immunosuppressive therapy at ICI initiation. Autoimmune disease flare and/or other IRAE(s) occurred in 79 patients (71%), including flare of preexisting autoimmune disease in 53 patients (47%) and/or other IRAE(s) in 47 patients (42%), with a need for immunosuppressive therapy in 48 patients (43%) and permanent discontinuation of ICI in 24 patients (21%). The median progression-free survival was shorter in patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy at ICI initiation (3.8 months versus 12 months; P = 0.006), confirmed by multivariable analysis. The median progression-free survival was shorter in patients who experienced a flare of preexisting autoimmune disease or other IRAE, with a trend toward better survival in the subgroup without immunosuppressant use or ICI discontinuation. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that flares or IRAEs occur frequently but are mostly manageable without ICI discontinuation in patients with a preexisting autoimmune disease. Immunosuppressive therapy at baseline is associated with poorer outcomes.

Incidence and Clinical Impact of Anti-TNFα Treatment of Severe Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-induced Colitis in Advanced Melanoma: The Mecolit Survey.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) significantly improve overall survival (OS) in patients with advanced melanoma, but immune-related colitis may occur and warrant anti-tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) treatment in severe forms. A nationwide, multicenter retrospective survey was conducted to assess both, the real-life incidence of grade 3/4 ICI-induced colitis treated with anti-TNFα, in patients with advanced melanoma, and the consequence of this therapeutic strategy on disease outcome. All patients with advanced melanoma treated with anti-TNFα agents for severe ICI-related colitis in the participating centers were included. Relative incidence was calculated according to the total number of patients treated with ICI in network centers during the period of inclusion. The possible impact of anti-TNFα treatment on disease outcome was evaluated through comparison of objective response rate, progression-free survival, and OS with pivotal literature data. Twenty-seven patients from 13 tertiary referral centers were included. Overall, severe ICI-related colitis treated with anti-TNFα occurred in 1% of patients with advanced melanoma, mostly with ipilimumab. Infliximab was successfully used in all patients but 1, mostly after 1 infusion. OS and progression-free survival of 12 and 3 months, respectively, were observed in these patients, along with an objective response rate of 41% at 12 months. This survey shows a low real-life incidence of severe colitis requiring anti-TNFα. Response rates to immunotherapy and survival data do not appear to significantly differ from those observed in pivotal studies. Severe ICI-induced colitis requiring anti-TNFα treatment appears to be a rare event in advanced melanoma, and infliximab does not seem to adversely affect disease outcome.