Encephalitis related to immunotherapy for lung cancer: Analysis of a multicenter cohort.

Using immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) to manage cancer is associated with various immune-related adverse events. Central and/or peripheral neurological disorders are rare and potentially serious. We analyzed the characteristics of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients who developed immune-related encephalitis under anti-programmed-death protein-1 or its ligand (PD-1/PD-L1). Clinical, biological and radiological characteristics of ICI-treated NSCLC patients with immune-related encephalitis, from 6 centers, were evaluated retrospectively. The 6 centers included 9 patients: all men, all smokers, median (range) age 67 (48-77) years, 78% adenocarcinomas, first- or second-line ICI for 5 and 4 patients, respectively. Two patients had non-active cerebral metastases at ICI onset. A median of 5 (1-22) ICI infusions preceded neurological symptoms, the most frequent being confusion (78%), fever (45%) and cerebellar ataxia (33%). CSF analyses revealed a median white blood cell count of 22/mm Immune encephalitis, a rare but serious complication of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy, carries a good prognosis when managed with early corticosteroids.

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Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier B.V.

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Declaration of Competing Interest This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.