Management of infliximab refractory immune checkpoint inhibitor gastrointestinal toxicity: a multicenter case series.

BACKGROUND

Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) gastrointestinal toxicity (gastritis, enteritis, colitis) is a major cause of morbidity and treatment-related death. Guidelines agree steroid-refractory cases warrant infliximab, however best management of infliximab-refractory ICI gastrointestinal toxicity (IRIGItox) is unknown.

METHODS

We conducted an international multicenter retrospective case series. IRIGItox was defined as failure of symptom resolution ≤grade 1 (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events V.5.0) following ≥2 infliximab doses

RESULTS

78 patients were identified: median age 60 years; 56% men; majority melanoma (N=70, 90%); 60 (77%) received anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 alone or in combination with anti-programmed cell death protein-1 and most had colitis (N=74, 95%). 106 post-infliximab treatments were given: 31 calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs); 27 antimetabolites (mycophenolate, azathioprine); 16 non-systemic immunomodulatory agents (eg, mesalazine or budesonide); 15 vedolizumab; 5 other biologics (anti-interleukin-12/23, 16, Janus kinase inhibitors) and 7 interventional procedures (including colectomy); 5 did not receive post-infliximab therapy. Symptom resolution was achieved in most (N=23/31, 74%) patients treated with CNIs; 12/27 (44%) with antimetabolites; 7/16 (44%) with non-systemic immunomodulation, 8/15 (53%) with vedolizumab and 5/7 (71%) with interventional procedures. No non-vedolizumab biologics resulted in toxicity resolution. CNIs had the shortest time to symptom resolution (12 days) and steroid wean (43 days); however, were associated with poorer event-free survival (6.3 months) and overall survival (26.8 months) than other agents. Conversely, vedolizumab had the longest time to toxicity resolution and steroid wean, 66 and 124 days, but most favorable survival data: EFS 24.5 months; median OS not reached. Six death occurred (three due to IRIGItox or management of toxicity; three with persisting IRIGItox

CONCLUSIONS

IRIGItox causes major morbidity and mortality. Management is heterogeneous. CNIs appear most likely to result in toxicity resolution in the shortest time period, however, are associated with poorer oncological outcomes in contrast to vedolizumab.

Informations de copyright

© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.

Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts

Competing interests: JMQ – Advisory board for BMS, Roche, Merck. AA – Reported honoraria, advisory/consultancy, speaker bureau/expert testimony, travel/accommodation/expenses from Pierre-Fabre, Novartis, MSD, BMS, Amgen, Merck, Sanofi and Eisai Ltd. CB – Reports grants from Advisory role: BMS, MSD, Roche, Novartis, GSK, AZ, Pfizer, Lilly, GenMab, Pierre Fabre, Third Rock Ventures. Research funding: BMS, Novartis, NanoString. Stockownership: Uniti Cars, co-founder Immagene BV, all outside the submitted work. MSC - Advisory boards for BMS, MSD, Novartis, Roche, Pierre-Fabre, Amgen, Ideaya, Merck Serono and Sanofi. DBJ – Advisory boards for Array Biopharma, BMS, Iovance, Jansen, Merck, Novartis, and Oncosec; Receives research grants from BMS and Incyte. GVL - consultant advisor for Aduro Biotech Inc, Amgen Inc, Array Biopharma Inc, Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Highlight Therapeutics S.L., Merck Sharp & Dohme, Novartis Pharma AG, Pierre Fabre, QBiotics Group Limited, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. AMM – Advisory boards for BMS, MSD, Novartis, Roche, Pierre-Fabre, QBiotics. BS – Honoraria from MSD, BMS, SUN Pharma, Allmiral, Novartis; Advisory Board for MSD, BMS, Pierre Fabre Pharma, Sanofi; travel support from BMS, Novartis, Pierre Fabre Pharma; Research Funding from Novartis; all outside the submitted work. LZ - served as consultant and has received honoraria from BMS, MSD, Novartis, Pierre Fabre, Sanofi, and Sunpharma and travel support from MSD, BMS, Pierre Fabre, Sanofi, Sunpharma and Novartis, outside the submitted work. KY- support from NIHR RM/ICR Biomedical Research Centre for Cancer, Institutional research support: AVEO Pharmaceuticals, Eisai, Ultimovacs,Teaching/promotional meetings: BMS, Eisai, Ipsen. CH, JL, AM-E, JMK, SNL, LT, KJN, NY, AT, YW and RMH report no disclosures.