mycophenolic-acid and Cytokine-Release-Syndrome

Cytokine release syndrome (CRS), occurring in more than 70% of HLA-haploidentical hematopoietic stem-cell transplantations with post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PT/CY-haplo), can lead to hemodynamic instability and worsen clinical outcomes. A calcineurin inhibitor is initiated after cyclophosphamide administration in the commonly used PT/CY regimens. Here, we conducted a phase I/II, prospective, single-center trial of PT/CY-haplo to evaluate the safety and efficacy of cyclophosphamide on days 3 and 5 along with cyclosporin and mycophenolate mofetil started from day - 1. Thirty-five adults with hematologic malignancies were enrolled. Myeloablative and reduced-intensity conditioning were used in 25 and 10 patients, respectively. Graft sources were bone marrow in 11 patients and mobilized peripheral blood stem cells in 24 patients. Disease-free survival on day 100, the primary endpoint, was 86% (95% confidence interval (CI), 69-94), which was over the predefined threshold of 50%. Unexpectedly, only 20% (95% CI, 8.4-37) of patients developed fever of > 38 °C early after graft infusion, all CRS grade 1, and all of which resolved just after cyclophosphamide administration. The cumulative incidences of grades II-IV acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), III-IV acute GVHD, and moderate-severe chronic GVHD were 23% (95% CI, 11-38), 6% (95% CI, 1-17), and 11% (95% CI, 4-25), respectively. The 3-year overall survival rate was 49% (95% CI, 31-64). Our results suggest that administration of cyclosporine and mycophenolate mofetil prior to PT/CY can reduce the frequency and severity of CRS without increasing GVHD. UMIN Clinical Trial Registry numbers: 000006631 and 000015694.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Cyclophosphamide; Cyclosporine; Cytokine Release Syndrome; Disease-Free Survival; Female; Graft vs Host Disease; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents; Incidence; Male; Middle Aged; Mycophenolic Acid; Prospective Studies; Transplantation, Haploidentical; Young Adult

Immune-related adverse events (ir-AEs) are increasingly becoming a concern, as immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are used more frequently. Herein, we present a case of fulminant cytokine release syndrome (CRS) complicated by dermatomyositis after the combination therapy with ICIs.. A 70-year-old male developed dermatomyositis during the course of treatment with two ICIs, nivolumab and ipilimumab. He was treated by steroid pulse therapy, but the effect was limited. Afterwards, he had acute-onset high fever, hypotension, respiratory failure, impaired consciousness, renal failure, and coagulation abnormality at the same time. C reactive protein (CRP), creatinine kinase (CK), D-dimer, and ferritin levels were considerably elevated: CRP, 24 mg/dL; CK, 40,500 U/L; D-dimer, 290 μg/mL; ferritin, 329,000 ng/mL.. CRS induced by ICI combination therapy.. Given that high fever and elevated CRP level indicated potential sepsis, an antibiotic was used until the confirmation of negative blood cultures. All the simultaneous acute symptoms were supposed to be CRS. He was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), and temporary intubation and hemodialysis were needed. Immunosuppressive therapy was reinforced by mycophenolate mofetil together with steroid, and plasma exchange was performed for the elimination of abnormal proteins.. The patient's clinical symptoms and laboratory parameters gradually improved and he was discharged from the ICU in a month.. Fulminant CRS can be induced by ICI combination therapy. As the initial symptoms of CRS resemble sepsis, it is important to consider CRS as a differential diagnosis and to initiate immunosuppressive therapy early when needed. In steroid-resistant cases, early introduction of other immunosuppressive therapy and plasma exchange can be effective.

Topics: Aged; Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological; Biomarkers; Combined Modality Therapy; Cytokine Release Syndrome; Dermatomyositis; Diagnosis, Differential; Humans; Immunologic Factors; Ipilimumab; Male; Mycophenolic Acid; Nivolumab; Plasma Exchange; Treatment Outcome