Introduction
The programmed death 1 receptor/programmed death ligand 1(PD1/PDL1) pathway plays a pivotal role in the tumour microenvironment allowing tumour proliferation and evasion of the the immune system.1 Nivolumab is a monoclonal antibody which inhibits PD1 and has been shown to significantly improve the overall survival of metastatic non small cell lung cancer(NSCLC).2 Adverse immune events are widely documented with Nivolumab, however, immune mediated myocarditis remains a rare occurrence.3
Case Report
A 79-year-old female ex smoker presented with a two-month history of cough and chest pain. Investigation with computerised topography (CT) of the thorax, abdomen and pelvis demonstrated a 5cm lesion in the right upper lobe and multiple metastatic deposits throughout both lungs. Biopsy confirmed adenocarcinoma of the lung. No targetable mutations were identified. Given her excellent performance status (PS), the patient was commenced on palliative chemotherapy. However she tolerated this poorly and opted to discontinue after one cycle of treatment.
Six months later despite remaining clinically well, imaging revealed ongoing progression of her malignancy with new liver metastases evident. She was commenced on second line Nivolumab. Ten days later,she presented febrile, with severe lower limb myalgia and mild shortness of breath. Bloods revealed globally deranged liver function tests, a significantly raised creatinine kinase and troponin T level at 9750U/L(normal range 30-145U/L) and 306ng/L(normal range <14ng/L) respectively. Her chest Xray showed no acute changes nor did her electrocardiogram (ECG).
Immune mediate myositis, hepatitis and pneumonitis were suspected. The patient was commenced on high dose intravenous (IV) steroids, IV fluids and IV antibiotics. Despite treatment, the patient developed type two respiratory failure requiring non invasive ventilation. Her troponin continued to rise to a peak of 1333ng/L. No ECG changes were noted and an echocardiogram was normal. A CT pulmonary angiogram failed to demonstrate an acute thrombus but identified bilateral pleural effusions.
Despite escalation of treatment, she continued to deteriorate and died 5 days after her admission.Post mortem noted congestion of the patients lungs and liver, with microscopic examination confirming lymphocytic infiltration of the liver, renal, skeletal and myocardial muscle by T lymphocytes, all of which stained negative for PD1 (Figure 1 and Figure 2).The cause of death was established as congestive cardiac failure due to Nivolumab induced autoimmune myocarditis(AM). Apart from a small sub centimetre area in her liver, malignant cells were not detectable demonstrating an almost complete pathological response after one cycle of immunotherapy.
Discussion
Immunotherapy has the ability to produce dramatic and durable clinicopathological response in patients with NSCLC in both the neoadjuvant and palliative setting.2,4Major pathological responses have been seen in the resection specimens of those treated neoadjuvantly with just 1-2 cycles of therapy.4.Similarly, fatal immune mediated toxicities including myocarditis, colitis, pneumonitis and hepatitis have been reported in the literature early in the treatment course.5 Although rare, the incidence of AM is rising 3 ,reflecting the increasing use of immunotherapy in the treatment of malignant disease. The onset of AM is mostly seen within the first 6 weeks of treatment and boasts a high mortality rate of 40-50%. AM is difficult to predict, more often than not occurring in those without a prior cardiac history.3 Nevertheless international guidelines recommend that an ECG and baseline cardiac biomarkers be performed on all patients prior to immunotherapy. These investigations should be repeated in those with abnormal baseline investigations or upon the development of suspicious symptoms. Prompt cessation of immunotherapy, instigation of immunosuppressant’s and urgent cardiology consultation should be sought in those with confirmed myocarditis.5,6
Conflicts of Interest Statement
The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
Corresponding Author
Dr. Niamh Peters,
Oncology SpR,
Mater Misercordiae Hospital,
Eccles Street,
Dublin 7
Email: [email protected]
References
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7. Postow M, Sidlow R, Hellmann M. Immune-Related Adverse Events Associated with Immune Checkpoint Blockade. New England Journal of Medicine. 2018;378(2):158-168.
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