Oncology Flashcards
What is the most common immune related adverse event associated with Immune checkpoint blockade and its median onset?
10-20% are endocrinopathies, most commonly involving thyroid, 2nd most common is pituitary
Media onset 8 weeks post initiation
What is the consequence of immune-related endocrine adverse events of immune checkpoint inhibitors?
Typically result in destruction of endocrine tissue resulting in irreversible endocrine hypofunction
How do endocrine adverse events correlate to survival following immune checkpoint inhibition?
Endocrinopathy correlates with better survival (in metastatic melanoma)
What endocrine monitoring is indicated in immune checkpoint inhibition therapy?
8-9am serum cortisol, TSH, fT4, glucose, Na, K, CCa at baseline and before each cycle
(HbA1c if pre -exisiting diabetes)
What additional endocrine monitoring is indicated for ipilimumab?
ACTH, LH, FSH, E2/testosterone, prolactin given high risk for hypophisitis
Are endocrinopathies contraindications for ICI therapy?
Usually no as cancer benefit outweigh endocrinopathy risk EXCEPT for adrenal crisis, thyrotoxicosis, DKA or severe thyroid eye disease
Are patients with pre-existing endocrinopathies at increased risk of developing an endocrinopathy with an ICI?
No
What is the management of ICI-related endocrinopathy?
Referral to endocrinologist unless isolated primary hypothyroidism
No evidence fo high dose steroids
In what ICI therapies would hypophisitis be suspected and how is it diagnosed?
Ipilimumab (20% patients), AntiPD1/PDL1 (1-2%)
- full pituitary panel, typically ACTH deficiency
- pituitary MRI (exclude pituitary mets)
- NB anti-pituitary antibodies not available
Compare and contrast CTLA4i and PDL1/PD1i induced hypophysitis
CTLA4:
- onset 10 weeks
- deficient in ACTH, TSH and Gn
- headaches
- 80% show MRI changes
PDL1/PD1:
- onset 27 weeks
- deficient in ACTH
- 20% have MRI change
How should ICI induced hypophysitis be managed?
- cortisol + ACTH levels
- hydrocortisone 100 mg IV for adrenal crisis
- high dose steroids in visual loss or intractable headache
- initiate maintenance therapy (15-25 mg split across day)
- sick day plan incl. IM cortisol
- do not need mineralocorticoid replacement
- thyroxine replacement if required
- sex hormone replacement if good prognosis
- vitamin D replacement (given sex hormone deficiency)
- Not for Growth hormone replacement as may cause cancer to grow
- desmopressin if ADH deficiency
What ICI is most commonly associated with thyroid endocrinopathy?
Anti-PD1 inhibitors
What is the typical pattern of thyroid endocrinopathy seen with ICI therapy?
Transient thyrotoxicosis 6 weeks after treatment due to destructive thyroiditis
Then hypothyroidism 12 weeks after therapy
Rarely Graves’/ophthlamopathy
How should hypothyroidism in ICI therapy be managed?
-Diagnosed as low fT4 + TSH > 10
-send anti-TPO
- start thyroxine and aim for normal TSH
How should thyrotoxicosis in ICI therapy be managed?
Send TSH receptor antibody
If negative start b-blocker for symptom relief while thyroiditis settles (Consider TRAb-negative Graves if thyroiditis does not improve)
If positive start thionamides for Graves disease
Only role for high dose steroids is in 1) severe thyrotoxicosis to reduce conversion T4 to T3 or 2) ophthalmopathy
What ICIs are associated with autoimmune diabetes?
Anti-PD1 = most common
Anti-PDL1
Anti-CTLA4 = less common8
How should autoimmune diabetes in patients on ICI therapy be maanged?
- T1DM antibodies (often negative)
- C peptide
- Ketones + VBG to assess for DKA
- no benefit from high dose steroids
- start insulin therapy incl hypo advice
What are features of ICI associated adrenal insufficiency?
- very rare
- associated with antiPD1/PDL1
How should ICI-related adrenal insufficiency be managed?
- Serum cortisol (low) + ACTH (high)
- short synacthen
- 21-OHase Ab
- CT adrenals to exclude Mets (even if 21-OHase positive)
- start hydrocortisone + fludrocortisone
What are clinical features of ICI-related hypoparathyroidism?
Very rare
Present with hypocalcaemia with low PTH
Require permanent calcium requirement and calcitriol
How do immunotherapy side effects differ from chemotherapy side effects?
- overall less toxicities esp grade 3 and 4
- No bone marrow toxicities
- distinct immune mediated toxicity
- less infusion related reactions
- safer in older population
What is the most common side effect of immunotherapy?
Skin toxicities
What is the most significant toxicity of. immunotherapy?
Colitis
What side effects are most common with anti-PD1?
Hypothyroidism
Pneumonitis
Myocarditis
Arthralgia
Autoimmune diabetes
What side effects are commonly associated with anti-CTLA4?
Hypophysitis
Rash/dermatitis
Enteritis
Colitis
What is the type timing of onset for anti-CTLA4 related toxicities?
4-10 weeks
What is the type timing of onset for anti-PD1 related toxicities?
4-14 weeks
What is the mechanism of immunotherapy adverse events?
Exact mechanism unknown
- may relate to T-cell activation
- increase auto-antibody production
- maybe cytokine or complement mediated
How should immunotherapy-related skin toxicities be managed?
Grade 1: mild topical steroid + antihistamine
Grade 2: stronger topical steroid + antihistamine
Grade 3: with-hold ICI, PO steroids, dermatology review
GRade 4: stop ICI, IV methylpred, derm review
How should ICI related hepatotoxicity be managed?
Grade 1 (ALT or AST < 3xULN) = no specific treatment
Grade 2 (ALT or AST 3-5xULN) = with hold ICI, PO pred, perform liver screen and consider imaging to exclude mets
Grade 3 (ALT or AST 5-20 ULN) = stop ICI, PO prednisone and liver USS
Grade 4 (ALT or AST > 20xULN) = stop ICI, IV methylpred, hepatology consult +/- liver biopsy
How should ICI related GI toxicity be managed?
Exclude infection with stool culture, CT scan if abdominal tenderness
Consider starting PO steroid if 4-6 loose stools for more than 3 days
If > 7 stools or fails to respond to PO prednisone given IV methylpred and get colonoscopy
If fails steroids then start infliximab
How is ICI-related pneumonitis managed?
For treatment only if symptomatic
-with hold ICI
- start PO steroid (IV if hypoxic)
- HRCT chest
- infliximab if no improvement in 48 hours
- consider broad spectrum antibiotics
- consider bronchoscopy to exclude other causes
What are radiological features of ICI-related pneumonitis?
-Ground glass opacities
- cryptogenic organising penumonia or interstitial pneumonia pattern
How are ICI-related nephrotoxicitues managed?
IV hydration + PO steroid for AKI up to 3xbaseline
Consider other causes
IV methylprednisone + nephrology consult if >3xbaseline
What is the most potent carcinogen in cigarette smoke?
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
How are stage 1 and 2 lung cancers treated?
Surgically = lobectomy + LN resection
(if not fit then with radiotherapy)
What is the indication for atezolizumab as adjuvant therapy in lung cancer?
Resected stage II or IIIA with >50% PDL1 expression on tumour
How is stage III lung cancer managed?
If IIIA and non bulky then can be managed surgically +/- chemo +/- radio +/- antiPDL1
If bulky IIIA or IIIB then for chemoradiation (platinum based) followed by durvalumab (anti-PDL1)
What lung cancers are associated with targeted driver mutation?
Cancers in non-smokers
How is an acneiform rash from TKI managed?
Topical or oral tetracyclines, topical steroids, sun protection
What TKIs can be used in Stage IV NSCLC EGFR mutant?
- erlotinib
- gefitinib
- osimertinib (T790 mutation only)
What TKIs can be used in Stage IV NSCLC ALK translocation (EML4-ALK fusion oncogene)?
- Alectinib
- Brigatinib
- Loratinib
- crizotinib
What TKIs can be used in Stage IV NSCLC with ROS1 translocation?
- crizotinib
- Entrectinib
What TKIs are used in Stage IV NSCLC with MET exon 14 mutation (splice site of exon14)?
- Capmatinib
- Tepotinib
What are common side effects of gefitinib and erlotinib?
- aceniform rash
- diarrhoea
- ocular changes
- alopecia
- nail changes
- pulmonary toxicity
What is the main toxicity of tepotinib?
Peripheral oedema
What treatment can be given to Stage IV lung adenocarcinoma with > 50% PDL1+ and performance status of 2?
Single agent immunotherapy
What treatment can be given to Stage IV lung squamous cell carcinoma with > 50% PDL1+ and performance status of 2?
Single agent immunotherapy
What is the big difference in treating lung adenocarcinoma and lung squamous cell carcinoma with regard to immunotherapy?
No role for immunotherapy in low PDL1 (<50% expression) in squamous cell, but a benefit seen for adenocarcinoma with any expression
How do you treat extensive stage small cell lung cancer?
Atezolizumab + platinum (cisplatin or carboplatin) + etoposide (total 4 cycles)
+/- radiotherapy for brain mets
How is small cell lung cancer staged?
Limited = can fit within one radiotherapy field
Extensive = cannot
How do you treat limited stage small cell lung cancer?
Cisplatin + etoposide + radiotherapy from cycle 2 (total 4 cycles)
How do you teat mesothelioma?
Ipilimumab + nivolumab
OR
Cisplatin + pemetrexed
(palliative intent)
What breast cancers are treated with curative and palliative intent?
- curative = resectable disease (Stage I-III)
- palliative - Stage IV
What is the most common subtype of breast cancer
Hormone receptor positive, HER2- negative
What treatments are used for the following types of breast cancer?
- Hormone receptor positive, HER2-negative
- HER2-positive
- Triple negative
Hormone receptor positive, HER2-negative:
- Endocrine therapy +/- chemo
HER2-positive:
- HER2 targeted, chemo +-/ endocrine
Triple negative:
- chemo
What percentage of breast cancers are hormone receptor positive?
70%
What clinical features are associated with hormone receptor positive breast cancer?
- indolent disease
- bone mets
- late recurrence
How is early breast cancer treated?
- Surgery (excision vs mastectomy +/- nodal biopsy or clearance)
- Neoadjuvant
- immunotherapy for TN
- anti-HER2 for HER2+ - Adjuvant:
- chemo +/- anti-HER2
- radiotherapy
- endocrine +/- CDK4/6i
- bisphosphonates - Fertility preservation
- Ovarian suppression
- cryopreservation
What treatment can be used for HER2+ breast cancer?
Trastuzumab (prevents HER2 homodimerization to inhibit signalling)
What are side effects of trastuzumab?
- cardiotoxicity (LVEF reduced)
- infusion rection
- nephrotic syndrome
What endocrine therapies can be used for breast cancer?
- tamoxifen (ER antagonist)
- aromatase inhibitors (letrozole, anastrozole) - only in post menopausal women (biologic or chemical)
- fulvestrant (inhibits ER dimerisation)
What are common toxicities of endocrine therapies for breast cancer?
- hot flushes
- arthralgia, myalgia (AI > Tam)
- vaginal atrophy (AI > Tam)
Tamoxifen:
- VTE
- endometrial cancer
Aromatase inhibitors:
- accelerated bone loss
How is metastatic breast cancer treated?
- HR+
- endocrine therapy +/- CDK4/6i
- single agent chemo
- bisphosphonates for bone mets - HER2+
- trastuzumab + pertuzumab (also binds HER2, inhibits ligand initiated intracellular signalling)
- singel agent chemo
- antibody drug conjugates (trastuzumab emtansine, trastuzumab deruxtecan) - TN
- single agent chemo +/- immunotherapy (pembrolizumab)
- antibody drug conjugates (sacituzumab govitecan)
What is the mechanism of action of CDK4/6i (abemaciclib, palbociclib, ribociclib)?
CDK4/6 forms doublet with cyclin D1, the splitting of this is essential for cell cycle replications to allow phosphorylation of Rb (CDK-Rb1-E2F pathway)
Blocking CDK4/6 prevents phosphorylation of Rb and prevents DNA synthesis
When combined with ER blockade to reduce downstream oestrogen-dependent stimulation fo E2F1, increasing the effectiveness of CDK4/6i
What are common side effects of CDK4/6i?
- leukopenia, neutropenia
- fatigue
- QTC prolongation
- diarrhoea (abemaciclib)
What are the 3 components of an antibody drug conjugate?
- Antibody
- linker
- payload (cytotoxic)
(allows for intracellular release of drug)