Safety and Efficacy of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Patients with Cancer and Viral Hepatitis: The MD Anderson Cancer Center Experience

Authors

Mirella Nardo
Bulent Yilmaz
Blessie Elizabeth Nelson
Harrys A Torres
Lan Sun Wang
Bruno Palma Granwehr
Juhee Song
Hanna R F Dalla Pria
Van A Trinh
Isabella C Glitza Oliva
Sapna P Patel
Nizar M Tannir
Ahmed Omar Kaseb
Mehmet Altan
Sunyoung S Lee
Ethan Miller
Hao Zhang
Bettzy A Stephen
Aung Naing

Publication Date

8-3-2023

Journal

The Oncologist

DOI

10.1093/oncolo/oyad039

PMID

36952233

PMCID

PMC10400154

PubMedCentral® Posted Date

3-23-2023

PubMedCentral® Full Text Version

Post-print

Abstract

Background: Despite the clinical benefit of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), patients with a viral hepatitis have been excluded from clinical trials because of safety concerns. The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence rate of adverse events (AEs) in patients with viral hepatitis who received ICIs for cancer treatment.

Materials and methods: We conducted a retrospective study in patients with cancer and concurrent hepatitis B or C, who had undergone treatment with ICI at MD Anderson Cancer Center from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2019.

Results: Of the 1076 patients screened, we identified 33 with concurrent hepatitis. All 10 patients with HBV underwent concomitant antiviral therapy during ICI treatment. Sixteen of the 23 patients with HCV received it before the initiation of ICI. The median follow-up time was 33 months (95% CI, 23-45) and the median duration of ICI therapy was 3 months (IQR, 1.9-6.6). Of the 33 patients, 12 (39%) experienced irAEs (immune-related adverse events) of any grade, with 2 (6%) having grade 3 or higher. None of the patients developed hepatitis toxicities.

Conclusion: ICIs may be a therapeutic option with an acceptable safety profile in patients with cancer and advanced liver disease.

Keywords

Humans, Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors, Retrospective Studies, Neoplasms, Antiviral Agents, Hepatitis, Viral, Human

Comments

This article has been corrected. See Oncologist. 2023 May 15;29(1):e164.

Published Open-Access

yes

Recommended Citation

Nardo, Mirella; Yilmaz, Bulent; Nelson, Blessie Elizabeth; et al., "Safety and Efficacy of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Patients with Cancer and Viral Hepatitis: The MD Anderson Cancer Center Experience" (2023). Faculty, Staff and Student Publications. 4867.
https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/uthgsbs_docs/4867