Open AccessLong‐term remission of small cell lung cancer after reactivation of tuberculosis following immune‐checkpoint blockade: A case report
Author(s) -
Sirgiovanni Mattia,
Hinterleitner Clemens,
Horger Marius,
Atique Naushad Bijoy,
Lauer Ulrich M.,
Zender Lars,
Hinterleitner Martina
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
thoracic cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.823
H-Index - 28
eISSN - 1759-7714
pISSN - 1759-7706
DOI - 10.1111/1759-7714.13821
Subject(s) - medicine , tuberculosis , lung cancer , blockade , immune system , immune checkpoint , adverse effect , immunology , lung , oncology , cancer , immunotherapy , pathology , receptor
Immune‐checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) provide a promising treatment option for advanced tumors including small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Nevertheless, in addition to immune‐related adverse events (irAEs), an increased risk of infection including tuberculosis has been previously described. Here, we report a case of long‐term remission of a patient with SCLC after reactivation of lung tuberculosis following ICI therapy. Our case illustrates the complexity of ICI‐associated immune modulation in tuberculosis. Since new lesions in lung cancer patients are commonly associated with tumor progression, infections with mycobacterial tuberculosis may be underdiagnosed in lung cancer.