Pseudoprogression: an indicator for cure in combined immunotherapy?

Immunotherapy. 2019 Sep;11(13):1087-1093. doi: 10.2217/imt-2019-0034. Epub 2019 Jul 30.

Abstract

Pseudoprogression is a unique, uncommon phenomenon that often hints at good prognosis. To date, there has been no report of complete remission after pseudoprogression. Here, we report successful treatment of metastatic renal clear cell cancer, using anti-PD-1 antibodies combined with autologous RetroNectin-activated cytokine-induced killer cells, in two patients who were failed to multitargeted kinase inhibitors. After early pseudoprogression, complete remission was achieved. At present, one patient has stopped therapy for about 1.5 years and is still disease free.

Keywords: anti-PD-1; antitumor; immune checkpoint inhibitors; immunotherapy; pseudoprogression.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell / immunology
  • Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell / therapy*
  • Aged
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological / therapeutic use*
  • Autografts
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Cytokine-Induced Killer Cells / transplantation*
  • Disease Progression
  • Fibronectins / immunology
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy / methods*
  • Kidney Neoplasms / immunology
  • Kidney Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Nivolumab / therapeutic use*
  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Recombinant Proteins / immunology
  • Remission Induction

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological
  • Fibronectins
  • PDCD1 protein, human
  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • retronectin
  • Nivolumab