Open Access

Improvement in recurring nivolumab-induced pneumonitis with repetitive administration of infliximab in a patient with head and neck cancer: A case report

  • Authors:
    • Shohei Ueno
    • Masato Uenomachi
    • Hitoshi Kusaba
    • Mamoru Ito
    • Kunihiro Suzuki
    • Hirofumi Ohmura
    • Kenji Tsuchihashi
    • Hiroshi Ariyama
    • Koichi Akashi
    • Eishi Baba
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: August 25, 2021     https://doi.org/10.3892/mco.2021.2379
  • Article Number: 221
  • Copyright: © Ueno et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

Metrics: Total Views: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )
Total PDF Downloads: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )


Abstract

Severe pneumonitis induced by nivolumab, an anti-programmed cell death-1 monoclonal antibody, is a rare but potentially fatal immune-related adverse event. In cases of steroid-refractory pneumonitis, an appropriate therapeutic strategy using anti-tumor necrosis factor‑α (TNF-α) antibody has not been established. A 59-year-old female was diagnosed with hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Previous therapies including chemoradiotherapy and throat laryngectomy were performed, but metastatic recurrence appeared in the intrapulmonary and mediastinal lymph nodes. The patient was administered nivolumab. On the 14th day of nivolumab administration, the patient experienced dyspnea and computed tomography of the chest showed multiple consolidations in the right lung. She was diagnosed with nivolumab-induced pneumonitis. Because the pneumonitis was refractory to steroid therapy, she was administered infliximab, and the pneumonitis improved. On the 72nd and 101st days of nivolumab administration, nivolumab-induced pneumonitis re-appeared with an elevated serum TNF-α concentration. In each occurrence of pneumonitis, repetitive administration of infliximab improved the pneumonitis. Repetitive administration of infliximab may be effective for treating recurrent nivolumab-induced pneumonitis that is associated with an increased serum TNF-α concentration.
View Figures
View References

Related Articles

Journal Cover

October-2021
Volume 15 Issue 4

Print ISSN: 2049-9450
Online ISSN:2049-9469

Sign up for eToc alerts

Recommend to Library

Copy and paste a formatted citation
x
Spandidos Publications style
Ueno S, Uenomachi M, Kusaba H, Ito M, Suzuki K, Ohmura H, Tsuchihashi K, Ariyama H, Akashi K, Baba E, Baba E, et al: Improvement in recurring nivolumab-induced pneumonitis with repetitive administration of infliximab in a patient with head and neck cancer: A case report. Mol Clin Oncol 15: 221, 2021
APA
Ueno, S., Uenomachi, M., Kusaba, H., Ito, M., Suzuki, K., Ohmura, H. ... Baba, E. (2021). Improvement in recurring nivolumab-induced pneumonitis with repetitive administration of infliximab in a patient with head and neck cancer: A case report. Molecular and Clinical Oncology, 15, 221. https://doi.org/10.3892/mco.2021.2379
MLA
Ueno, S., Uenomachi, M., Kusaba, H., Ito, M., Suzuki, K., Ohmura, H., Tsuchihashi, K., Ariyama, H., Akashi, K., Baba, E."Improvement in recurring nivolumab-induced pneumonitis with repetitive administration of infliximab in a patient with head and neck cancer: A case report". Molecular and Clinical Oncology 15.4 (2021): 221.
Chicago
Ueno, S., Uenomachi, M., Kusaba, H., Ito, M., Suzuki, K., Ohmura, H., Tsuchihashi, K., Ariyama, H., Akashi, K., Baba, E."Improvement in recurring nivolumab-induced pneumonitis with repetitive administration of infliximab in a patient with head and neck cancer: A case report". Molecular and Clinical Oncology 15, no. 4 (2021): 221. https://doi.org/10.3892/mco.2021.2379