22.10.2016 | Original Article
Cardiac allograft rejection as a complication of PD-1 checkpoint blockade for cancer immunotherapy: a case report
verfasst von:
Taofeek K. Owonikoko, Mukesh Kumar, Shu Yang, Alice O. Kamphorst, Rathi N. Pillai, Rama Akondy, Vivek Nautiyal, Monica S. Chatwal, Wendy M. Book, Anurag Sahu, Gabriel L. Sica, Rafi Ahmed, Suresh S. Ramalingam
Erschienen in:
Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy
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Ausgabe 1/2017
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Abstract
Introduction
The increased availability of immunotherapeutic agents for the treatment of a wide array of cancer in the general oncology practice setting will reveal rare and unique toxicities.
Materials and methods
The mechanism of cardiac allograft rejection in the context of PD-1 antibody therapy was explored in a patient with cutaneous squamous cell cancer complicating long-standing cardiac allograft. Immune cell infiltrate in the myocardium and peripheral blood lymphocyte repertoire were assessed using myocardial biopsy and temporal analysis of peripheral blood samples. The efficacy of high-intensity immunosuppression to reverse graft rejection was explored.
Results
Endomyocardial biopsy showed acute moderate diffuse cellular rejection with a predominant population of CD3+, CD8+ and CD4+ infiltrating lymphocytes; peripheral blood circulating lymphocytes showed a high frequency of proliferating and activated CD8+ T cells expressing PD-1 compared to a normal control. There was no difference in the activation and proliferation of CD4+ T cells compared to a normal control. Cardiac function improved following high-intensity immunosuppression and patient survived for up to 7 months after discontinuation of nivolumab.
Conclusions
Immune checkpoint inhibitors should be avoided in allograft recipients but high-intensity immunosuppression is effective to salvage allograft rejection induced by these agents.