Case Report: Replacement of PD-1 inhibitors with PD-L1 inhibitors in the treatment of squamous non-small-cell lung carcinoma

Abstract

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-associated cardiotoxicity is a relatively uncommon immune-related adverse effects (irAEs) with a high mortality rate. There are few recommendations for the replacement of different immune checkpoint inhibitors in domestic and international reports.

Case presentation: We report a case of a patient with squamous non-small cell lung carcinoma (squamous NSCLC) who developed cardiotoxicity after being treated with a programmed death-1 (PD-1) inhibitor and then changed to a PD-L1 inhibitor to continue the treatment. A significant benefit was observed after four cycles of immunotherapy, and no further cardiotoxicity occurred after the treatment was started.

Conclusion: This case demonstrates that myocardial damage induced by tislelizumab (PD-1 inhibitor) can be improved after switching to sugemalimab (PD-L1 inhibitor) and that antitumor immunotherapy is effective. This result may have important implications for optimizing immunotherapy management regimens in cancer patients.

Keywords: PD-L1 inhibitor; cardiotoxicity; case report; squamous NSCLC; sugemalimab; tislelizumab.