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Potentially fatal complications of new systemic anticancer therapies: pearls and pitfalls in their initial management Cover

Potentially fatal complications of new systemic anticancer therapies: pearls and pitfalls in their initial management

Open Access
|Apr 2024

Figures & Tables

FIGURE 1.

Mechanisms of action of new anticancer therapies. (A) Immune checkpoint inhibitor; (B) CAR T-cell; (C) Bispecific T-cell engager and (D) Antibody drug conjugate.
Mechanisms of action of new anticancer therapies. (A) Immune checkpoint inhibitor; (B) CAR T-cell; (C) Bispecific T-cell engager and (D) Antibody drug conjugate.

FIGURE 2.

Management of toxicities of immunotherapy.BiTE = bispecific T-cell engager; CAR = chimeric antigen receptor; CRS = cytokine release syndrome; HLH = haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis; ICANS = immune effector-cell associated neurotoxicity syndrome; ICI = immune checkpoint inhibitor; irAE = immune-related adverse events
Management of toxicities of immunotherapy.BiTE = bispecific T-cell engager; CAR = chimeric antigen receptor; CRS = cytokine release syndrome; HLH = haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis; ICANS = immune effector-cell associated neurotoxicity syndrome; ICI = immune checkpoint inhibitor; irAE = immune-related adverse events

Grades 2 and 3 of the selected immune-related adverse events (irAEs)

irAEGrade 2Grade 3
Maculo-papular rashPapules and/or pustules covering 10−30% BSA, which may or may not be associated with symptoms of pruritus or tenderness; associated with psychosocial impact; limiting instrumental ADL; papules and/or pustules covering > 30% BSA with or without mild symptomsPapules and/or pustules covering > 30% BSA with moderate or severe symptoms; limiting self-care ADL; associated with local superinfection with oral antibiotics indicated
Diarrhoea/enterocolitisIncrease of 4−6 stools/day over baselineIncrease of ≥ 7 stools/day over baseline
ILD/PneumonitisSymptomatic (presence of new or worsening symptoms: dyspnoea, cough), medical intervention indicated, limiting instrumental ADLSevere symptoms, oxygen indicated, limiting self-care ADL
Rheumatologic toxicityModerate pain, stiffness and/or weakness limiting instrumental ADLSevere pain, stiffness and/or weakness limiting self-care ADL
Neuro-muscular toxicityModerate pain associated with weakness, limiting instrumental ADLPain associated with severe weakness, limiting self-care ADL
HepatotoxicityALT or AST 3−5 × ULNALT > 5 × or AST < 20 × ULN
Renal toxicitySerum creatinine >1.5−3 × above the baseline or the UNL, KDIGO stage 2: increase in serum creatinine 2−2.9 × above the baselineSerum creatinine > 3 × above the baseline or > 3−6 × ULN, KDIGO stage 3: increase in serum creatinine > 3 × or to > 4.0 mg/dl or initiation of dialysis

Grades of the cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and the immune cell-associated neurologic syndrome ICANS

ToxicityGrade 1Grade 2Grade 3Grade 4
CRSFever: ≥ 38°C Hypotension: none Hypoxia: noneFever: ≥ 38°C AND Hypotension: not requiring vasopressor AND/OR HypoxiaFever: ≥ 38°C AND Hypotension: requiring vasopressor AND/OR HypoxiaFever: ≥ 38°C AND Hypotension requiring multiple vasopressors AND/OR Hypoxia requiring positive pressure
ICANSICE score: 7−9 No depressed level of consciousnessICE score: 3−6 AND/OR Mild somnolence awaking to voiceICE score: 0−2 AND/OR Depressed level of consciousness awakening only to tactile stimulus AND/OR clinical seizure focal or generalized that resolve with intervention AND/OR Focal or local oedema on neuroimagingICE sore: 0 AND/OR Stupor or coma AND/OR Life-threatening prolonged seizure AND/OR Diffuse cerebral oedema on neuroimaging, decerebrate or decorticate posturing or papilledema, cranial nerve VI palsy, or Cushing’s triad

Approved antibody drug conjugates in the European union and their potentially fatal toxicities

Antibody drug conjugateTarget/cytotoxic agentIndicationPotentially fatal complications
Belantamab mafodotin (Blenrep)BCMA/mcMMAFMultiple myelomaPneumonitis Thrombocytopenic bleeding
Brentuximab vedotin (Adcetris)CD30/MMAEHodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphomaProgressive multifocal encephalopathy (reactivation of JCV) Pancreatitis ILD/Pneumonitis/ARDS Serious infections/Opportunistic infections Severe skin reactions (SJS, TEN) Liver failure Tumor lysis syndrome
Gemtuzumab ozogamicin (Mylotarg)CD33/ ozogamicinAMLLiver failure (VOD/SOS) Myelosuppression Tumour lysis syndrome
Inotuzumab ozogamicin (Besponsa)CD22/ ozogamicinB-cell ALLLiver failure (VOD/SOS) Myelosuppression Tumor lysis syndrome
Loncastuximab tesirine (Zynlonta)CD19/ PBDDLCBCLOpportunistic infections Oedema and effusions
Polatuzumab vedotin (Polivy)CD79b/ MMAEDLCBCLNeutropenic infection Opportunistic infection Progressive multifocal encephalopathy Tumor lysis syndrome
Enfortumab vedotin (Padcev)Nectin-4/ MMAEAdvanced urothelial carcinomaSevere skin reactions (SJS, TEN) ILD/Pneumonitis Hyperglycaemia/Diabetic ketoacidosis
Trastuzumab deruxtecan (Enhertu)HER-2/ DxdAdvanced breast, non-small cell lung and gastric cancerPneumonitis/ILD Neutropenic infection
Trastuzumab emtansine (Kadcyla)HER-2/ EmtansineEarly and advanced breast cancerLiver failure Haemorrhagic events ILD/Pneumonitis
Sacituzumab govitecan (Trodelvy)Trop-2/ SN-38Advanced breast cancerNeutropenic infection Severe diarrhoea

Approved CAR T cell therapies and bispecific T cell engagers in the European Union

AgentType of therapyTargetIndications
Tisagenlecleucel (Kymriah)CAR TCD19B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, Follicular lymphoma
Axicabtagene ciloleucel (Yescarta)CAR TCD19Primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma, Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, High grade B-cell lymphoma, Follicular lymphoma
Brexucabtagene autoleucel (Tecartus)CAR TCD19Mantle-cell lymphoma, B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia
Lisocabtagene maraleucel (Breyanzi)CAR TCD19Follicular lymphoma grade 3B, Primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma, Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
Idecabtagene vicleucel (Abecma)CAR TBCMAMultiple myeloma
Ciltacabtagene autoleucel (Carvykti)CAR TBCMAMultiple myeloma
Talquetamab (Talvey)BiTEGPRC5D/CD3Multiple myeloma
Teclistamab (Tecvayli)BiTEBCMA/CD3Multiple myeloma
Glofitamab (Columvi)BiTECD20/CD3Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
Mosunetuzumab (Lunsumio)BiTECD20/CD3Follicular lymphoma
Tebentafusp (Kimmtrak)BiTEGp100/CD3Uveal melanoma
Teclistamab (Tecvayli)BiTEBCMA/CD3Multiple myeloma

Approved immune checkpoint inhibitors in the European Union

Immune checkpoint inhibitorTargetApproved indications

Early cancerAdvanced cancer
Atezolizumab (Tecentriq)PD-L1NSCLCUrothelial carcinoma, NSCLC, SCLC, TNBC, HCC
Avelumab (Bavencio)PD-L1_Urothelial carcinoma, RCC, Merkel cell carcinoma
Cemiplimab (Libtayo)PD-1_Cutaneous SCC, Basal cell carcinoma, NSCLC, Cervical carcinoma
Durvalumab (Imfinzi)PD-L1_NSCLC, SCLC, HCC, Biliary tract cancer
Ipilimumab (Yervoy)CTLA-4_Melanoma, RCC, NSCLC, MPM, CRC, Oesophageal carcinoma
Nivolumab (Opdivo)PD-1Urothelial carcinoma, melanoma, NSCLC, oesophageal and GEJ cancerMelanoma, NSCLC, RCC, cHL, Head and neck SCC, MPM, Urothelial carcinoma, CRC, Oesophageal SCC, Gastric, GEJ or Oesophageal adenocarcinoma
Pembrolizumab (Keytruda)PD-1RCC, melanoma, NSCLC, TNBCRCC, Melanoma, NSCLC, HL, Urothelial carcinoma, Head and neck SCC, Cancers with MSI-H or MMRd, Oesophageal carcinoma, Endometrial carcinoma, Cervical carcinoma, Gastric and GEJ adenocarcinoma
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/raon-2024-0027 | Journal eISSN: 1581-3207 | Journal ISSN: 1318-2099
Language: English
Page range: 170 - 178
Submitted on: Feb 22, 2024
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Accepted on: Mar 10, 2024
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Published on: Apr 14, 2024
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 4 issues per year

© 2024 Milena Blaz Kovac, Bostjan Seruga, published by Association of Radiology and Oncology
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.