The Cytokine Expression in Patients with Cardiac Complication after Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy.

We herein report the cytokine expression at different stages for three patients who developed cardiac complications after immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy. Case 1 with biopsy-proven myocarditis showed increased levels of interleukin (IL)-8, monocyte chemotactic and activating factor, and granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) when he developed Takotsubo cardiomyopathy. Case 2 with subclinical myocarditis showed predominant activation of IL-8 during the progressive clinical course. Case 3 with cytokine-releasing syndrome showed substantial activations of IL-6, IL-8, GM-CSF, and interferon-γ. Our data suggest the development of unique cytokine activation in individual patients with cardiac complications after ICI therapy.

Introduction

Cytokines are soluble proteins roughly 5 to 20 kDa in size that regulate host immune activity through a highly complex network. With only a limited half-life, they work as pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory signals by binding high-affinity receptors (1,2). The cytokine network can contribute to the pathogenesis of a number of disorders, such as bronchial asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, and rheumatoid arthritis (3-5). The discovery of immune checkpoints, such as cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4, and programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)/programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1), has advanced our understanding of immunity. As a result, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have brought about a new era in cancer therapy (6).

ICIs activate T-cell proliferation and exert anti-tumor immunity but also induce a wide spectrum of immune-related adverse effects (irAEs) via the release of cytokines [e.g., tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interferon (IFN)-γ, granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interleukin (IL)-1α, and IL-1β] (7,8). irAE-related myocarditis is reported with frequency between 18/20,594 (0.09%) and 11/964 (1.14%) (9,10), with wide variation in severity (from smoldering to fulminant myocarditis) (11,12).

Circulatory cytokine concentrations are increased in viral myocarditis and cardiomyopathy (13,14), so we measured the serum cytokine concentrations of three cancer patients with cardiac complications after ICI therapy at different stages in their clinical course. The present study explored the activation of cytokines associated with cardiac complications after ICI therapy. In addition, we postulated that increased levels of cytokines at certain time points may predict immune-related cardiac toxicity.

Materials and Methods

Residual serum samples were collected as a by-product of daily clinical biochemistry testing and stored at -80℃ until a cytokine analysis could be performed. We measured IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, GM-CSF, IFN-γ, monocyte chemotactic and activating factor (MCAF), and TNF-α simultaneously with a pro-inflammatory multiplex ELISA Kit (Cat No. CK500900; Antigenix America, Huntington Station, USA). The major functions of these cytokines are as follows (2): IL-1α and IL-1β, pyrogenic, pro-inflammatory, proliferation and differentiation, bone marrow cell proliferation; IL-6, differentiation into plasma cells, IgG production; IL-8, chemotaxis, pro-inflammatory; MCAF (also called monocyte chemotactic factor-1), chemotaxis, angiogenesis; IFN-γ, anti-viral, macrophage activation, an increased neutrophil and monocyte function, major histocompatibility complex-I and complex-II expression on cells; TNF-α, phagocyte cell activation, endotoxic shock; and GM-CSF, granulocyte, monocyte, and eosinophil production.

In addition, we measured the concentrations of pembrolizumab and nivolumab with an ELISA Kit (C-PE01Q, C-NI01Q; Metallogenics, Chiba, Japan).

Case Reports

Case 1

A 75-year-old man developed subclinical myocarditis (grade 1 irAEs) on the 21st day after his first pembrolizumab (200 mg) infusion for recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the lung. He had had his left-upper lobe and regional lymph nodes resected 27 months earlier and undergone 4 administrations of cisplatin and vinorelbine. He was admitted to our hospital due to an elevated creatine kinase level. However, he did not show any clinical signs of acute coronary syndrome or heart failure. His temperature was 35.8°C, blood pressure 140/92 mmHg, and heart rate 80 beats per minute. Chest X-ray revealed a cardiothoracic ratio of 45% without congestion in the lung fields. A 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) exhibited sinus rhythm and a previously unrecognized, completely blocked right branch bundle (Fig. 1A). At the time of admission, blood tests showed elevated levels of creatine kinase at 2,859 U/L (reference range, 30-200 U/L), creatine kinase-MB isoenzyme at 117 U/L (reference range, 0-12 U/L), and cardiac troponin-T at 0.37 ng/mL (Roche Diagnostics, Mannheim, Germany; reference range, <0.014 ng/mL). The pembrolizumab concentration in the blood was 7.77 μg/mL. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a left ventricular ejection fraction of 57% (Fig. 1B-a, -b) and minimal myocardial edema (Fig. 1B-c) but displayed late gadolinium enhancement in the subepicardial regions of the mid- and lateral wall (Fig. 1B-d). Two endomyocardial biopsies performed at a one-month interval both showed active myocardial inflammation in hematoxylin-eosin staining (Fig. 1C-a, -f). In adjacent sections at the first biopsy, CD3 T-lymphocytes expressed PD-1 (Fig. 1C-b, -c), whereas CD68 macrophages expressed PD-L1 (Fig. 1C-d, -e). A transthoracic echocardiogram displayed a left ventricular ejection fraction of 56% without regional wall motion abnormalities (Fig. 1D).

Figure 1.

A: A 12-lead electrocardiograms during the clinical course in Case 1. B: Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging at diastole (a) and systole (b), dark-blood sequence for non-enhanced T2-weighted imaging (c) and delayed gadolinium-enhanced imaging (d) performed at day 30. C: An immunohistochemical study using endomyocardial biopsy specimens obtained from the septal wall of the right ventricle at day 36 [a, Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) staining; b, CD3 (Clone F7.2.38, DakoCytomation); c, PD-1 [anti-PD1 antibody (EPR4877 (2), ab137132, abcam)]; d, CD68 (Clone PG-M1, DakoCytomation); e, PD-L1 (IHC 22C3 pharmDx, DakoCytomation)], and H&E staining (f) in a specimen obtained at day 71. Scale bar, 200 μm. D: Clinical course and changes in the parameters of the left ventricular structure and function, as assessed by a transthoracic echocardiogram. E: Cytokine expressions. F: Creatine kinase (CK), and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in the clinical course. LVPWTd: left ventricular posterior wall thickness at end-diastole, LVIDd: left ventricular diastolic internal dimension, LVIDs: left ventricular systolic internal dimension, LVEF: left ventricular ejection fraction, PE: pericardial effusion, PSL: prednisolone

Monotherapy for methylprednisolone was continuously administered intravenously, and oral prednisolone was given followed by the methylprednisolone treatment. At admission, all cytokine values were negative except for MCAF (88 pg/mL). By the 115th hospital day, the concentrations were as follows: IL-6 (2,214 pg/mL), IL-8 (3,211 pg/mL), MCAF (2,333 pg/mL), and GM-CSF (1,460 pg/mL) (Fig. 1E). At that time, the 12-lead ECG revealed widespread T-wave inversion concomitant with QT prolongation, and the transthoracic echocardiogram displayed apical ballooning form in the left ventricle, suggesting Takotsubo cardiomyopathy. We did not perform coronary angiography.

Cytokines IL-1α, IL-1β, IFN-γ, and TNF-α were not detected during the clinical course. The immune-suppressive treatment decreased the creatine kinase level, but troponin I (133 pg/mL, Abbott Japan, Tokyo, Japan, reference range <30 pg/mL) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels increased as Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (Fig. 1F) and pericardial effusion progressed. The patient died on the 120th day at the affiliated hospital, possibly due to ventricular wall rupture. No autopsy was performed.

Case 2

A 47-year-old man suffering from ethmoid sinus cancer developed subclinical myocarditis (grade 1 irAEs) on the 16th day after his third nivolumab (3 mg/kg) infusion. He had been treated three times with cisplatin and irinotecan and received radiation. His temperature was 36.9°C, blood pressure 130/82 mmHg, heart rate 90 beats per minute, and respiratory rate 17 breaths per minute. He had no signs of heart failure or acute coronary syndrome, and the 12-lead ECG displayed a sinus rhythm without ST-T segment changes (Fig. 2A).

Figure 2.

A: A 12-lead electrocardiograms in Case 2. B: Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging at diastole (a) and systole (b), dark-blood sequence for non-enhanced T2-weighted imaging (c) and delayed gadolinium-enhanced imaging (d) performed at day 28. C: Changes in the parameters of the left ventricular structure and function as assessed by a transthoracic echocardiogram. D: Clinical course. E: Cytokine expressions. F: CK, and CRP levels. LVPWTd: left ventricular posterior wall thickness at end-diastole, LVIDd: left ventricular diastolic internal dimension, LVIDs: left ventricular systolic internal dimension, LVEF: left ventricular ejection fraction

At the time of admission, blood tests showed white-blood cells at 18,800/mm3 (reference range, 3,300-8,600/mm3), neutrophils at 90.3% (reference range, 37-72%), platelet cell count at 70,000/mm3 (reference range 158,000-348,000/mm3), creatine kinase at 3,385 U/L (reference range, 59-248 U/L), creatine kinase-MB isoenzyme at 1,221 U/L (reference range, <12 U/L), cardiac troponin-T at 3.30 ng/mL (reference range, <0.014 ng/mL), and CRP at 0.50 mg/dL (reference range, 0-0.14 mg/dL). The nivolumab concentration was 3.45 μg/mL in the blood. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a left ventricular ejection fraction of 55% (Fig. 2B-a, -b) with minimal myocardial edema over the entire left ventricular wall (Fig. 2B-c) and delayed gadolinium enhancement at the mid-inferior and septal wall (Fig. 2B-d). A transthoracic echocardiogram showed normal left ventricular dimensions and a normal systolic function throughout the clinical course (Fig. 2C).

He was given methylprednisolone, by adding γ-globulin for progressive thrombocytopenia, and cyclosporine for hemophagocytic syndrome (Fig. 2D). The levels of cytokines IL-6 (max, 24 pg/mL), IL-8 (max, 633 pg/mL), MCAF (max, 113 pg/mL), and TNF-α (max, 114 pg/mL) increased over time during the clinical course (Fig. 2E), but IL-1α, IL-1β, and IFN-γ were not detected. Creatine kinase levels continuously increased, and CRP showed trimodal activation despite treatment (Fig. 2F). The findings of a repeated 12-lead ECG did not show changes in the ST-T segment, nor did they reveal intraventricular block or new arrhythmias. The patient died on the 57th day in the hospital because of cancer progression. Neither an endomyocardial biopsy nor autopsy was performed.

Case 3

A 63-year-old man suffering from hypopharyngeal cancer was admitted to our hospital with a high fever, leukopenia, and a decreased in appetite on the 32nd day after his fifth nivolumab (3 mg/kg) infusion. He had received one dose of docetaxel/cisplatin/5-fluorouracil, two of paclitaxel/cetuximab, and the second paclitaxel/cetuximab 12 days prior to admission. His body temperature was 38.2℃, blood pressure 84/42 mmHg, heart rate 132 beats per minute, and respiratory rate 22 breaths per minute (grade 4 irAEs).

At the time of admission, blood tests showed white-blood cells were 2,100/mm3 (reference range, 3,300-8,600/mm3), neutrophils at 63.9% (reference range, 37-72%), hemoglobin at 13.3 g/dL (reference range, 13.7-16.8 g/dL), a platelet count of 134,000 /μL (reference range, 158,000-348,000 /μL), creatinine at 1.03 mg/dL (reference range, 0.65-1.07 mg/dL), aspartate transaminase at 25 U/L (reference range, 13-30 U/L), and alanine transaminase at 15 U/L (reference range, 10-42 U/L). His nivolumab concentration in the blood was 8.76 μg/mL. His condition deteriorated with the appearance of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. He received cardioversion.

Chest X-ray exhibited a cardiothoracic ratio of 56% and bilateral pulmonary congestion while in the supine position. Blood test findings worsened on the second hospital day with creatinine at 2.47 mg/dL, aspartate transaminase at 12,422 U/L, alanine transaminase at 4,321 U/L, and CRP at 8.08 mg/dL. In addition, creatine kinase 894 U/L (reference range, 30-200 U/L) and cardiac troponin-T 0.16 ng/mL (reference range, <0.014 ng/mL) were markedly elevated at this point. The endotoxin test and serial blood culture were negative. The 12-lead ECG revealed a low-voltage R wave at the limb leads and a completely blocked right branch bundle (Fig. 3A). A transthoracic echocardiogram showed a left ventricular ejection fraction of 60%, a 22-mm-thick left ventricular wall, and subsequent mild pericardial effusion (Fig. 3B).

Figure 3.

A: A 12-lead electrocardiograms in Case 3. B: Changes in the parameters of the left ventricular structure and function as assessed by a transthoracic echocardiogram. C: Clinical course. D: Cytokine expressions. E: CRP levels. LVPWTd: left ventricular posterior wall thickness at diastole, LVIDd: left ventricular diastolic internal dimension, LVIDs: left ventricular systolic internal dimension, LVEF: left ventricular ejection fraction, PE: pericardial effusion, PMX: polymyxin B hemoperfusion, CHDF: continuous hemodiafiltration, TM: thrombomodulin, NrAd: noradrenalin, CMX: cefmenoxime, MEPM: meropenem, LZD: linezorid, MINO: minocycline

He received extracorporeal hemoperfusion with polymyxin B (Toray Medical, Tokyo, Japan) along with continuous hemodiafiltration (cytokine-adsorbing hemofilter, AN69ST; Baxter, Tokyo, Japan), catecholamine support, broad-spectrum antibiotics, recombinant thrombomodulin, γ-globulin, and high-dose corticosteroids (Fig. 3C). Afterward, his general condition, laboratory findings, and R voltage normalized, and his left ventricular wall shrank to 11 mm in thickness. The levels of cytokines IL-6 (max, 2,226 pg/mL), IL-8 (max, 3,752 pg/mL), GM-CSF (max, 253 pg/mL), IFN-γ (max, 247 pg/mL), MCAF (max, 1,465 pg/mL), and CRP (max, 8.08 mg/dL) increased on the third hospital day but decreased following the treatment (Fig. 3D, E). TNF-α was not detected while in the hemodynamically unstable state but increased throughout recovery (326 pg/mL). IL-1β was not detected.

Neither an endomyocardial biopsy nor magnetic resonance imaging was performed. The patient died on the 305th day at the affiliated hospital due to the cancer progression. No autopsy was performed.

Discussion

This report demonstrated for the first time to evaluate that cytokines were differentially expressed with cardiac complication in the individual clinical presentation after ICI therapy. The cytokine levels did not follow the course of ICI-related myocarditis, and might be influenced by a variety of factors, such as Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, and cardiac complication of cytokine-releasing syndrome, as well as the underlying cancer, other cancer therapies, and immunosuppressive treatment.

The first case presented with biopsy-proven “definite” ICI-related myocarditis (15). Surprisingly, most cytokines were not active, despite the presence of active myocardial inflammation. It is possible for a smoldering phenotype presented little cytokine activation and/or previously administered anti-inflammatory treatment to have masked the activation. However, IL-8, MCAF, IL-6, and GM-CSF selectively increased with the development of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy in the later course. Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is assumed to be the consequence of psychological stress (16) or could be another form of ICI-related cardiac toxicity (17), and IL-6 is activated in the disorder (14). The second case presented clinically “possible” myocarditis (15), and that IL-8 was the predominant cytokine among the eight cytokines examined. It is likely that IL-8 level reflects cancer progression (18), but not to myocardial structure and function. The third case presented with high fever, was hemodynamically unstable, and required vasopressor support. IL-1α, IL-6, IL-8, GM-CSF, and INF-γ were all substantially elevated and exacerbated hemodynamic abnormalities and exerted transient left ventricular hypertrophy (possibly edema). We defined this case as cardiac complication of cytokine-releasing syndrome, and it can be triggered by various factors, including ICIs (19-21). Hemodiafiltration, to absorb excess cytokines, seemed an effective treatment to decline the cytokine concentrations in advance of an improved clinical presentation. In this case, CRP levels paralleled with IL-6 and IL-8 concentrations (19,22). TNF-α increased during the recovery phase, consistent with a report by Oda et al. (23), who also reported that TNF-α increased during the recovery of cytokine-releasing syndrome after nivolumab infusion. However, the role of TNF-α plays as an anti-inflammatory response in a host defense remains unclear (24). Taken together, mechanism of cytokine activation may differ between ICI-related myocarditis, Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, and cardiac complication of cytokine releasing syndrome. Changes in serum IL-8 levels reflect tumor response to ICI therapy (18). IL-8 was the predominant cytokine in our three patients, and our data suggest that the levels may reflect not only tumor burden but also severity of cardiac complications after ICI therapy.

Creatine kinase-MB isoenzyme and troponin-T levels were exceedingly elevated regardless of cardiac function and damage in the second patient. Troponin-T may not be heart-specific in the context of ICI therapy, especially not in cases of highly elevated creatine kinase (15,25-27). One may consider if the elevated troponin-T as the result of concomitant myositis (15), myocyte toxic effects of pro-inflammatory cytokines (28), or ectopic production from cancer cells (29). Chen et al. (30) also reported that spreading cancer cells express cardiac troponin-I. We measured ICI concentration if they may affect the occurrence of irAEs. However, concentrations of pembrolizumab and nivolumab on the day of admission were demonstrated to be lower than expected, according to the pharmacokinetic model (31,32). There are no reports that serum ICI concentration correlates with efficacy or adverse effects, and our data suggests it does not directly predict the occurrence of irAEs. Management of irAEs is recommended based on anecdotal evidence and the life-threatening nature of cardiovascular complications (33). We continued to administer the prednisolone without adding other drugs or anti-thymoglobulin after recognizing the sustained myocardial inflammation at the second biopsy of the first case. Our experience indicates that the repeated histological information might provide chance to reconsider the strategy to treat the ICI-related myocarditis. However, it is unclear whether cytokine levels are useful for predicting, or managing the cardiac complications after ICI therapy.

Conclusion

We described the time-sequential cytokine expressions of three cases who developed myocarditis, Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, and cardiac complications of cytokine-releasing syndrome after ICI therapy. We did not mention the cytokine levels before ICI therapy, but IL-8 appears to reflect the disease severity of tumor progression and respective cardiac complications. The conclusions that can be drawn from this case series are very limited, and further studies will be needed in order to explore the utility of cytokine activation for monitoring patients after ICI therapy.

This study was approved by the Human Investigation Review Committee of the University of Miyazaki and conforms with the principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki, as revised in 2013. We state that, because the patients have now passed away, written informed consent was obtained from their relatives (case 1, son; case 2, mother; case 3, sister), for the publication of this case report.

The authors state that they have no Conflict of Interest (COI).

Financial Support

This study was supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Clinical Research from Miyazaki University Hospital.