Checkpoint inhibitor–induced haemophagocytic histiocytosis (HLH) is an important side-effect
with a challenging therapy and high mortality rate. Thus, we agree that it is critical
to raise awareness to the condition, which allows early detection and treatment. It
is also essential to gather data on these events to establish best practice. Case
reports are an important tool to identify signals for further investigation of such
rare events as has been the case for cardiomyositis [
[1]
], which triggered an US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) initiative. Likewise,
the first reports of HLH [
[4]
,
[3]
] were essential to highlight this pathology that was previously rarely encountered
by dermato-oncologists. Rare side-effects might not be captured in the safety data
of the prospective studies for drug approval because a single case might not be enough
to prove the relation to the study drug. Thus, currently, the only way forward is
data from large cohorts captured in registries which is—as correctly stated—inferior
to large-scale prospective studies. However, funding for prospective side-effect research
is not available, and even publishing studies on side-effects is much more difficult
and less prestigious than on effectiveness.To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
Purchase one-time access:
Academic & Personal: 24 hour online accessCorporate R&D Professionals: 24 hour online accessOne-time access price info
- For academic or personal research use, select 'Academic and Personal'
- For corporate R&D use, select 'Corporate R&D Professionals'
Subscribe:
Subscribe to European Journal of CancerAlready a print subscriber? Claim online access
Already an online subscriber? Sign in
Register: Create an account
Institutional Access: Sign in to ScienceDirect
References
- Cardiotoxicity associated with CTLA4 and PD1 blocking immunotherapy.J Immunother Canc. 2016; 4: 50
- Treatment-related hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis secondary to checkpoint inhibition with nivolumab plus ipilimumab.Eur J Canc. 2018 Apr; 93 (Epub 2018 Feb 19): 150-153https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejca.2018.01.063
- Myositis and neuromuscular side effects induced by immune checkpoint inhibitors.Eur J Canc. 2018; 106: 12-23
- Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in adults: collaborative analysis of 137 cases of a nationwide German registry.J Canc Res Clin Oncol. 2020 Apr; 146: 1065-1077
- Adverse events 2.0-Let us get SERIOs: new reporting for adverse event outcomes needed in the era of immunooncology.Eur J Canc. 2019; 112: 29-31
Article info
Publication history
Published online: June 18, 2021
Accepted:
May 20,
2021
Received:
May 20,
2021
Identification
Copyright
© 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
ScienceDirect
Access this article on ScienceDirectLinked Article
- Hematological immune related adverse events after treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitorsEuropean Journal of CancerVol. 147
- PreviewWith the increasing use of checkpoint inhibitors, rare immune-related adverse events (irAE) are being identified. Haematological irAE (hem-irAE) are difficult to treat and have shown high mortality rates. In order to improve side-effect management for these potentially life-threatening events, we analysed frequency, severity and outcomes.
- Full-Text
- Preview
- Re: Hematological immune related adverse events after treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors: Immune checkpoint inhibitor–related haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosisEuropean Journal of CancerVol. 153
- PreviewWe read with great interest the article by Kramer et al. [1] on the haematological adverse effects associated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). The authors have extensively discussed several rare but clinically significant hematological adverse effects that may also prove to be fatal in some cases. The adverse effect that drew our attention, in particular, is haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). HLH is a potentially fatal clinical syndrome that results from a severe, uncontrolled hyperinflammatory state, which may be triggered by several causes such as infection, malignancy, drugs and so on [2].
- Full-Text
- Preview
