Abstract 3267
Background
Recently, the world of oncology has been revolutionized by immunotherapy which has shown considerable advantages in terms of overall survival in cancer patients. The association of Pembrolizumab and Trastuzumab was recently proposed in clinical trials for the treatment of Trastuzumab-resistant advanced HER2-positive breast cancer. Although immunotherapies are frequently associated with a wide spectrum of immune-related adverse events, the cardiactoxicity has not been properly studied.
Methods
In human fetal cardiomyocytes exposed to Trastuzumab and Pembrolizumab alone or in combination, we studied: the cell viability (through MTS assay), the quantification of intracellular calcium, Interleukin 1β, 6 and 8; the expression of NF-kB and Leukotrienes. Preclinical studies were also performed in C57BL6 mice dividing them in 4 groups (6/group: untreated mice (control) ; mice treated with Pembrolizumab at 10 mg/Kg for the first dose, followed by 5 mg/Kg dose every 5 days until the study end point, according to literature; mice treated with Trastuzumab at 10 mg/kg/day; mice treated with both drugs in combination. After the administration period, we analyzed the fibrosis and inflammation in heart tissues.
Results
The combination of Pembrolizumab and Trastuzumab increases the intracellular calcium overload (of 3 times compared to untreated cells) and reduces the cardiomyocytes viability (of 65 and 20-25%, compared to untreated and Pembrolizumab or Trastuzumab treated cells, respectively; p < 0.01 for both). Combination therapy increases the inflammation of cardiomyocytes by enhancing the expression of NF-kB and Interleukins. Moreover, in preclinical models, the association of Pembrolizumab and Trastuzumab increases the cardiac fibrosis and Interleukins expression of 40-50 % compared to the single treatments; the expression of NF-kB and Leukotriene B4 were also significantly increased, compared to the single treatments.
Conclusions
The association of Pembrolizumab and Trastuzumab exerts pro-inflammatory and pro fibrotic effects in the heart; these effects are mainly mediated by overexpression of NF-kB and Leukotriene B4 related pathways and pro-inflamamtory cytokines.
Clinical trial identification
Editorial acknowledgement
Legal entity responsible for the study
The authors.
Funding
This work was funded by the “Ricerca Corrente” grant from the Italian Ministry of Health.
Disclosure
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.
Resources from the same session
1885 - Factors associated with disease progression in patients treated with trametinib in combination with dabrafenib for unresectable advanced BRAFV600-mutant melanoma: an open label, non randomized study
Presenter: Philippe Saiag
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
5259 - Integrative RNAseq and Target panel sequencing reveals common and distinct innate and adaptive resistance mechanisms to BRAF inhibitors
Presenter: Phil Cheng
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
5619 - Effective treatment with T-VEC monotherapy in Stage IIIB/C-IVM1a Melanoma of the Head & Neck Region
Presenter: Viola Franke
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
5666 - Re-introduction of T-VEC Monotherapy in Recurrent Stage IIIB/C-IVM1a melanoma is effective
Presenter: Viola Franke
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
4117 - Efficacy of talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC) in melanoma patients (pts) with locoregional (LR) recurrence, including in-transit metastases (ITM): subgroup analysis of the phase 3 OPTiM study
Presenter: Mark Middleton
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
5303 - Real Life Use of Talimogene Laherparepvec in Melanoma in Centers in Austria and Switzeland
Presenter: Christoph Hoeller
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
4130 - Outcomes of advanced melanoma patients who discontinued pembrolizumab (pembro) after complete response (CR) in the French early access program (EAP)
Presenter: Philippe Saiag
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
2050 - Outcome of patients with elevated LDH treated with first-line targeted therapy (TT) or PD-1 based immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI)
Presenter: Sarah Knispel
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
1618 - Comparative-Effectiveness of Pembrolizumab vs. Nivolumab for Patients with Metastatic Melanoma
Presenter: Justin Moser
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
3556 - Long-term efficacy of combination nivolumab and ipilimumab for first-line treatment of advanced melanoma: a network meta-analysis
Presenter: Peter Mohr
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract