Tumor-related cytokine release syndrome in a treatment-naïve patient with lung adenocarcinoma:A case report

lNTRODUCTlON

Cytokine release syndrome(CRS)is defined as systemic inflammation that usually occurs after the initiation of chimeric antigen receptor(CAR)T-cell therapy[1].Several case reports have shown that patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors(ICIs)such as pembrolizumab[2]and nivolumab[3]anti-programmed cell death-1(antibody)can develop CRS.To our knowledge,CRS has not been previously reported in treatment-naïve patients with lung cancer.Based on the results of our follow-up on patients with non-small cell lung cancer,the present patient’s primary CRS was attributed to lung cancer,which usually recurs due to the development of tumors and an increase in tumor burden.Moreover,the patient developed CRS after being administered nivolumab,which led to rapid death(Table 1).This finding suggests that tumor-related CRS may be associated with ICI-related adverse events(irAEs)and poor prognosis among patients treated with nivolumab.

CASE PRESENTATlON

Chief complaints

A 44-year-old nonsmoking woman visited our hospital(Xiangya Hospital,Central South University,Changsha,Hunan Province,China)in October 2017 due to fever(maximum,41 °C),palpitation,nausea,and cough for 1 mo.

History of present illness

The patient had fever(maximum,41 °C),palpitation,nausea,and cough for 1 mo.

History of past illness

No special history of past illness.

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Personal and family history

Seventeen days after receiving the last dose of nivolumab,the patient was sent to the emergency department due to exacerbation of sudden dyspnea,high fever,respiratory failure,and sudden cardiac arrest.The patient eventually died on September 8,2019,with laboratory tests showing elevated cytokine and inflammatory factor levels(Figure 1).

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We speculated that the patient may have primary CRS related to lung cancer and administered a 10 mg intravenous infusion of dexamethasone qd for 7 d,20 g intravenous infusion of gamma globulin for 3 d,and other supportive treatments.The patient’s fever eventually subsided,her general condition improved,the levels of inflammatory factors and cytokines decreased(Figure 1),and the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group(ECOG)score improved.Four cycles of chemotherapy with pemetrexed and cisplatin were initiated.The patient achieved partial remission(PR)at 1-mo follow-up according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors,version 1.1(Figure 2B).The patient had an ECOG score of 1,and her routine blood tests and cytokine and inflammatory factor levels had returned to normal(October 1,2017)(Figure 1).

Physical examination

The patient was diagnosed with partially differentiated adenocarcinoma of the lung with negative epidermal growth factor receptor and anaplastic lymphoma kinase gene mutations based on the results of computed tomography(CT)-guided puncture biopsy.The patient exhibited characteristics similar to those of CRS based on her clinical manifestations(high fever,tachycardia,nausea,appetite loss,and malaise)and laboratory examination results(elevated cytokines[tumor necrosis factor α(TNFα)and interleukin(IL)-1β,IL-6,and IL-10 levels(Figure 1),organ dysfunction(liver),and elevated ferritin levels][4].We excluded other conditions that may have caused similar symptoms,such as tumor lysis syndrome(no hyperkalemia,uric acidemia,.),infection,and hemophagocytic syndrome(absence of hematopoietic cells on bone marrow biopsy).

The flute was heard at the distance of a mile, and strangeevents took place. A rich banker s family, who were driving in a coach and four, were blown out of it, and could not even find room behind it with their footmen. Two rich farmers who had in our days shot up higher than their own corn-fields, were flung into the ditch; it was a dangerous flute. Fortunately it burst at the first sound, and that was a good thing, for then it was put back into its owner s pocket- its right place.

Laboratory examinations

The patient had palpable right-sided supraclavicular lymph nodes,low breath sounds on the right lung,and the absence of rales.

Imaging examinations

On June 11,2018,she experienced recurrent fever for 10 d,and CT showed tumor progression(Figure 2C).The levels of cytokine and inflammatory factors began to increase(Figure 1),and we excluded the possibility of infectious fever and considered recurrent CRS.As the patient had stage IIIc adenocarcinoma,she was treated with radiotherapy from July 2018 to August 2018,and anlotinib therapy was initiated.The patient did not develop fever during this period.In October 2018,follow-up CT was performed,which revealed that the tumor had shrunk(Figure 2D);however,the size of the tumor started to increase in May 2019(Figure 2E).Hence,five cycles of nivolumab treatment was administered.CT was performed in August 2019 and showed that the patient had achieved PR(Figure 2F).

FlNAL DlAGNOSlS

Lung adenocarcinoma(stage T3N3M)and CRS.

TREATMENT

I finished reading six months of the letters and discovered there were at least eleven months missing. Where could they be? My mother couldn t remember-perhaps, she said, they had been left in her childhood home; she had lived there with her mother while Daddy was overseas. If so, that meant they were lost forever.

CT on October 9,2017 revealed a thick-walled cavity in the upper right lobe(Figure 2A).Tumor stage was cT3N3M0(IIIc).

OUTCOME AND FOLLOW-UP

No special personal or family history was reported.

DlSCUSSlON

The exact mechanism of CRS has not been fully elucidated.Cytokines are released when the tumor interacts with immune effector cells,and they can originate not only from the CAR T cells but also from host immune cells,such as macrophages[5].Previous studies have shown that lung cancer cells can directly release inflammatory cytokines,including IL-1,IL-6,TNFα,and interferon(IFN)[6].Tumor necrosis can also release a large number of cytokines,such as TNF[7].The patient had obvious necrotic cavities in her lungs which may have been the cause of cytokine release.

This clinical experience demonstrates that corticosteroids are an effective treatment for CRS,and steroids can be rapidly tapered within several days without CRS recurring.Another drug,tocilizumab,is a humanized immunoglobulin G1 +(IgG1 +)anti-human IL-6R monoclonal antibody which can usually resolve fever and hypotension within a few hours in patients with CRS and may induce a response more quickly than corticosteroids[8].In the present case,corticosteroids and immunoglobulin were administered,and a significant therapeutic effect was achieved.With subsequent chemotherapy and other treatments to control lung cancer,CRS also improved,suggesting that antitumor therapy is also an important treatment for tumorrelated CRS.Moreover,targeted immunosuppressive agents are also available to inhibit TNFα and IL-1,both of which may contribute to CRS,such as anti-TNFα monoclonal antibodies(infliximab),soluble TNFα receptor(etanercept),and IL-1Rbased inhibitors(anakinra).

Alas6! your Majesty, answered the prince, it is not love or marriage that makes me so gloomy; but the thought, which haunts me day and night, that all men, even kings, must die

This patient was administered nivolumab as third-line treatment and experienced exacerbation of CRS-like symptoms and eventually passed away after showing an oncologic response following nivolumab administration.ICI-related CRS can develop 2 d to 4 mo after treatment,and before or after achieving a significant antitumor response to ICI therapy[2,3];this type of CRS is related to tumor lysis through the induction of pyroptosis in target cells[9].Based on the patient’s symptoms and results of auxiliary examinations combined with her previous CRS,her disease progression may have been related to nivolumab treatment.A series of recent studies suggest inflammatory cytokines are potential biomarkers for irAEs,and one study found that patients treated with nivolumab who had a high level of soluble IL-2 measured at the initial tumor evaluation had a significantly increased risk of developing grade 3-4 nivolumab-related irAEs[10].The above phenomena suggest that the use of ICIs in patients with tumor-associated CRS may induce the onset or aggravation of CRS or serious irAEs,which may be life-threatening.

CONCLUSlON

We believe that CRS can occur in treatment-naïve patients with lung cancer.Corticosteroids,immunoglobulins,and subsequent antitumor treatments have played important roles in the control of tumor-related CRS.Patients with tumor-related CRS may be at risk of CRS recurrence,aggravation,and onset of irAEs when treated with ICIs;therefore,it is necessary to carefully evaluate whether the patient has CRS prior to initiating ICI treatment.