Background

Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4), an immune-checkpoint receptor and regulator of T-cell activation, has become an important therapeutic target for immunotherapy in cancer. Ipilimumab, a fully human antibody that blocks CTLA-4, was the first immunomodulatory checkpoint inhibitor approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for patients with advanced melanoma [1],[2]. Treatment with ipilimumab can be associated with inflammatory side effects, termed “immune-related adverse events” (irAEs) [3],[4].

Given the critical role of CTLA-4 in maintaining immunologic homeostasis, clinical trials involving ipilimumab and cancer immunotherapies in general have excluded patients with underlying autoimmune diseases out of concern for triggering autoimmune exacerbations in these individuals. In preclinical models, anti-CTLA-4 treatment is known to enhance onset and severity of several T cell-mediated experimental autoimmune diseases, including murine models of encephalomyelitis [5],[6], myasthenia gravis [7], and type 1 diabetes [8]. Yet, the clinical experience treating patients with ipilimumab who have advanced melanoma and concomitant, underlying autoimmune diseases has not been described.

We report two patients with advanced melanoma and a concomitant autoimmune disorder who were treated with ipilimumab; one had multiple sclerosis and another had rheumatoid arthritis. Ipilimumab was well tolerated in both patients without related exacerbation of their known autoimmune disease. One patient had a profound anti-tumor effect from ipilimumab.

Case presentation 1

A 52-year-old man was diagnosed in March 2010 with multiple sclerosis (MS) when he presented to a neurologist with episodes of fatigue, lower extremity paresthesias, and bowel and bladder incontinence. The diagnosis of MS was made based upon the McDonald criteria with multiple clinical events associated with characteristic imaging findings [9]. He received initial treatment with glatiramer 20 mg daily via subcutaneous injection (an immunomodulatory drug that activates regulatory T-lymphocyte suppressor cells) and dalfampridine 20 mg twice daily orally (a potassium channel blocker affecting nerve conduction). After a year of treatment, he then received interferon beta 44mcg three times weekly via subcutaneous injection. His MS, characterized as the relapsing-remitting subtype, was active as he had suffered flares associated with increased weakness once every few months, requiring hospitalization and subsequent rehabilitation. Nonetheless, he was fully ambulatory and independent with his activities of daily living.

The patient’s melanoma history began shortly after initiation of treatment for MS when the patient first noted a lump on his right lower back. Shave biopsy revealed invasive, ulcerated melanoma to a depth of at least 3.5 mm Breslow thickness. He then underwent a wide excision and sentinel lymph node biopsy. Sentinel lymph node biopsy revealed micrometastatic disease in one lymph node in the right axilla, and a separate lymph node with melanoma was involved in the right inguinal region. Molecular analysis showed no detectable BRAF V600 mutation. After extensive discussion of options, the patient elected a program of vigilant observation rather than complete lymph node dissection of the two involved lymph node basins. Interferon alpha was discussed, but due to the patient’s active multiple sclerosis, he was thought not to be a good candidate for aggressive adjuvant therapy.

Nine months after wide excision, patient’s cancer recurred as multiple skin nodules involving his right flank, as well as right groin and right axilla lymphadenopathy. Excisional biopsy of a right groin nodule revealed metastatic melanoma. He was treated initially with temozolomide 75 mg/m2 daily in an extended dosing regimen [10]. After one month, a computed tomography (CT) scan showed evidence of disease progression with worsening lymphadenopathy, as well as progressive subcutaneous lesions on his right flank.

Due to limited treatment options and after carefully considering the risks and benefits of treatment, standard ipilimumab was initiated at 3 mg/kg every three weeks for four doses. During ipilimumab, he had no significant irAEs and no exacerbation of his MS. He continued to receive interferon beta treatment for his multiple sclerosis while receiving ipilimumab. Unfortunately, after completing ipilimumab, a positron emission tomography (PET) scan showed progressive disease with worsening widespread metastatic melanoma. Despite subsequent treatment with carboplatin and paclitaxel, he died due to melanoma progression in March 2013.

Case presentation 2

A 67-year-old woman presented to a rheumatologist with anemia, weight loss, and multiple joint effusions. Based upon clinical criteria as per the American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism collaborative initiative [11], she was diagnosed with seronegative rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in 2007. She underwent a left knee aspiration, showing 16,000 white blood cells with neutrophil predominance. She was then started on treatment with prednisone 20 mg daily and methotrexate 15 mg weekly with significant improvement in her symptoms.

Around this time, she was also diagnosed with cutaneous melanoma. She first noticed a pigmented lesion on her right calf in 2005. Biopsy of the right leg lesion was performed, with pathology revealing invasive melanoma, 0.72 mm in Breslow thickness, no ulceration was seen. Local excision of the melanoma and right inguinal sentinel lymph node biopsy one month later showed no residual malignant melanoma.

Following initial surgical resection, the patient remained without melanoma recurrence until November 2011 when she noticed subcutaneous lesions in the left anterior neck and right lower back. She underwent skin excisional biopsy of the suspicious site on her right lower back with pathology consistent with metastatic melanoma. Molecular analysis revealed no apparent mutation in BRAF, NRAS or KIT. Whole body PET/CT scan revealed metastatic disease with multiple lung and subcutaneous nodules.

Though ipilimumab was initially considered, it was deferred out of concern it would exacerbate the patient’s RA, which still required methotrexate and low-dose corticosteroids for maintenance. Instead, the patient was treated on a clinical trial involving a gamma secretase inhibitor in combination with cisplatin, vinblastine, and temozolomide (CVT) chemotherapy. Despite initial clinical benefit with this regimen, melanoma progression was observed eight months later. Given limited treatment options, ipilimumab was pursued after a complete discussion of its potential risks and benefits in the setting of known RA.

In October 2012, the patient was initiated on a course of ipilimumab (3 mg/kg every three weeks for four doses). After completing four doses of ipilimumab, subsequent imaging showed partial response, with overall decreased bilateral lung nodules, soft tissue and osseous involvement (Figure 1). Following completion of ipilimumab, she did note slightly increased bilateral knee pain consistent with known osteoarthritis rather than RA, and this was effectively treated with celecoxib. Throughout this course, the patient was maintained on methotrexate 15 mg weekly and low-dose prednisone (5 mg daily).

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Figure 1

Timeline of treatment and demonstration of response. (a) Baseline chest CT scan prior to ipilimumab showed multiple subcutaneous, intramuscular, and pulmonary nodules (largest nodule indicated by white arrow). (b) Two months after completion of four treatments with ipilimumab, restaging PET scan showed decreased size of lung nodules, soft tissue and osseous involvement. (c) Repeat CT scan showed near radiographic resolution of lung nodule. (d) Timeline of described events (not to scale).

In January 2014, over one year since starting ipilimumab, a computed tomography (CT) scan demonstrated slow progression of disease. Given the long initial response, ipilimumab re-induction has been pursued, and she is currently undergoing this treatment. She has had no worsening symptoms related to RA throughout the remainder of course to date.

Consent

Written informed consent was obtained from the patient or next of kin for publication of this case report and any accompanying images. Copies of the written consents are available for review by the Editor-in-Chief of this journal.