[Rheumatic immune adverse events related to immune checkpoint inhibitors-(IrAEs related to ICI)]

Bull Cancer. 2021 Jun;108(6):643-653. doi: 10.1016/j.bulcan.2021.01.016. Epub 2021 Apr 24.
[Article in French]

Abstract

New anti-cancer therapeutics have been developed in the recent years and dramatically change prognosis and patient management. Either used alone or in combination, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI), such as anti-CTLA-4 and anti-PD1/PD-(L)1, act by removing T-cell inhibition to enhance their antitumor response. This change in therapeutic targets leads to a break in immune-tolerance and a unique toxicity profile resulting in immune complications. These side effects, called Immune-Related Adverse Events (IrAEs), can affect all organs, with a wide range of clinical and biological presentations and severity. Various rheumatic and musculoskeletal manifestations have been reported in the literature, ranging from mild arthralgia, polymyalgia rheumatica, to genuine serodefined rheumatoid arthritis and myositis. Tolerance studies suggest some correlations between IrAEs occurrence and tumor response. Assessment of patient musculoskeletal status prior to the start of the ICI is warranted. Management of rheumatic IrAEs does not usually request ICI discontinuation, exception for myositis or very severe forms where it should be discussed. Treatment relies on non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or low dose glucocortioids (<20mg per day). Dose should be adjusted according to severity. The use of disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), either conventional and/or biological should be very cautious and result from a shared decision between oncologist and rheumatologist to best manage dysimmunitary complications without hampering the antitumor efficacy of ICI.

Keywords: Arthrites; Arthritis; IrAEs; Nivolumab; Pembrolizumab; Polymyalgia rheumatica; Pseudo-polyarthrite rhizomélique; Rheumatology; Rhumatologie.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / therapeutic use
  • Antirheumatic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Arthralgia / chemically induced
  • Arthralgia / drug therapy
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / chemically induced
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / drug therapy
  • B7-H1 Antigen / antagonists & inhibitors
  • CTLA-4 Antigen / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Glucocorticoids / administration & dosage
  • Humans
  • Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors / adverse effects*
  • Myositis / chemically induced
  • Myositis / drug therapy
  • Polymyalgia Rheumatica / chemically induced
  • Polymyalgia Rheumatica / drug therapy
  • T-Lymphocytes / drug effects

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
  • Antirheumatic Agents
  • B7-H1 Antigen
  • CD274 protein, human
  • CTLA-4 Antigen
  • CTLA4 protein, human
  • Glucocorticoids
  • Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors