Background Immune checkpoint inhibitors are poised to revolutionize the management of a growing number of malignancies. Unfortunately, the management of steroid-refractory immune mediated adverse events is based on a paucity of randomized data and limited to single center experiences. Our initial experience with the IL-6 receptor antagonist tocilizumab showed clinical improvement in a wide variety of irAEs. As a result, we adopted the use of tocilizumab for the management of steroid refractory irAEs. Methods The character and clinical course of irAEs were abstracted from the medical record and analyzed. The dose of tocilizumab was 4 mg/kg given IV over one hour. C-reactive protein was drawn at first nivolumab infusion and at q two weeks (and with irAEs) thereafter. Clinical improvement was defined as either: documentation of resolution of symptoms or hospital discharge within seven days. Results Of the initial 87 patients that were treated with nivolumab, 34 required tocilizumab (39.1%). All patients were on corticosteroids. The majority (88.2%) were lung cancer patients. The index grade 3/4 irAE was pneumonitis in 35.3%, serum sickness/SIRS in 35.3%, cerebritis in 14.7% and one case each of hypophysitis, colitis, pancreatitis, hepatitis and immune mediated coagulopathy. Median time between first nivolumab and initiation of tocilizumab was 76 days (range 1-429). There was a statistically significant increase in C-reactive protein from a median of 23 mg/L (range 0.1-238.5) at baseline to 109.3 mg/L (21.5-350.4) at the time of index irAE, followed by a decrease to 19.2 mg/L (0.25-149) after tocilizumab ( p < 0.00001). Clinical improvement was noted in 27/34 patients (79.4%). Some patients (52.9%) required a single dose, while 38.2% required two, 8.8% required three and 1 patient required four doses. Twenty-seven doses were given in the inpatient setting (49.1%). Median time to discharge was four days (range 1-27). Seventy-four percent of patients were discharged home. For the 53 doses of tocilizumab that were delivered when infliximab was an option, there was a cost savings of $141,048.72 (WAC) during the 18 month study period. Conclusions Tocilizumab may be a therapeutic option for the management of steroid refractory irAEs secondary to immune checkpoint blockade. However, randomized trials are needed to better elucidate the relative efficacy and safety of these agents.
e21712 Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors are poised to revolutionize the management of a growing number of malignancies. Unfortunately, the management of steroid-refractory immune mediated adverse events (irAEs) is based on a paucity of randomized data and limited to single center experiences. Our initial experience with the IL-6 receptor antagonist tocilizumab showed clinical improvement in a wide variety of irAEs. As a result, we adopted the use of tocilizumab for the management of steroid-refractory irAEs. Methods:The character and clinical course of irAEs were abstracted from the medical record and analyzed. The dose of tocilizumab was 4 mg/kg given IV over 1 hour. C-reactive protein was drawn at first nivolumab infusion and at q 2 weeks (and with irAEs) thereafter. Clinical improvement was defined as either: documentation of resolution of symptoms or hospital d/c within 7 days. Results:Of the initial 87 patients that were treated with nivolumab, 34 required tocilizumab (39.1%). All pts were on corticosteroids. The majority (88.2%) were lung cancer patients. The index grade 3/4 irAE was pneumonitis in 35.3%, cytokine release syndrome/SIRS in 35.3%, cerebritis in 14.7% and one case each of hypophysitis, colitis, pancreatitis, hepatitis and immune mediated coagulopathy. Median time between first nivolumab and initiation of tocilizumab was 76 days (range 1-429). Median CRP at initial tocilizumab dose was 100.5 mg/L (2.0 -350.4). Clinical improvement was noted in 27/34 pts (79.4%). 52.9% of pts required a single dose, while 35.3% required two, 8.8% required three and 1 pt required 4 doses. Twenty seven doses were given in the inpatient setting (49.1%). Median time to discharge was 4 days (range 1-27). Seventy four percent of pts were discharged home. For the 55 doses of tocilizumab that were delivered there was a cost savings of $147,174.94 (WAC) during the 18 month period versus infliximab 5 mg/kg IV dose. Conclusions: Tocilizumab is a therapeutic option for the management of steroid refractory irAEs secondary to immune checkpoint blockade. However, randomized trials are needed to better elucidate the relative efficacy and safety of these agents.
e20624 Background: Lung cancer has one of the highest incidences of thromboembolic events (TEE) ranging from 8.4 to13.2%. Cisplatin-based chemotherapy in lung cancer is a well-established risk factor for TEE (11.8%). The incidence of TEE in lung cancer patients (pts) treated with nivolumab (nivo) is unclear. The objective of this study was to evaluate the incidence of TEE, risk factors and its impact on overall survival in lung cancer pts treated with nivo. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study that included all lung cancer pts treated with nivo from April 2015 to October 2016 at our institution. Medical records were reviewed for incidence, timing, CTCAE grade, type and site of TEE, risk factors and patient demographics. Cox proportional hazard model was used to identify independent predictive factors for TEE. Risk factors with p <0.15 in univariate analysis were included in multivariate model using a stepwise approach. Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate overall survival (OS). Results: The cumulative incidence (CI) of TEE over a median follow up of 10.8 months after starting nivo was 18.4% (14/76 pts). Of the 14 pts who had TEE, 8 had deep vein thrombosis (DVT), 7 had pulmonary embolism (PE), 1 had concurrent DVT/PE and 2 had arterial thrombosis (AT). 28.6% (4/14) of pts experienced recurrent TEE resulting in 18 total episodes. Median time to TEE after starting nivo was 2.9 months (95% CI 1.9 - 8.4). Gender was the only covariate included in multivariate analysis that showed a significant association with TEE (Female vs Male HR 3.1, 95% CI 1.02 – 9.5, p= 0.045). At a median follow up of 31.8 months since diagnosis of lung cancer, pts who had TEE before receiving nivo had worse OS. TEE occurring after nivo had no impact on OS. Conclusions: The CI of TEE is significantly high at 18.4% in lung cancer pts treated with nivo. However, it had no impact on OS. Further studies are needed to determine the role of prophylactic anticoagulation in this high-risk population. [Table: see text]
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