Open AccessImmune-checkpoint inhibitors in renal transplanted patients affected by melanoma: a systematic review
Author(s) -
Ernesto Rossi,
Giovanni Schinzari,
Brigida Anna Maiorano,
I. Esposito,
Anna Acampora,
Jacopo Romagnoli,
Alessandro Stefani,
Laura Del Regno,
Valentina Lancellotta,
Bruno Fionda,
Luca Tagliaferri,
Ketty Peris,
Giampaolo Tortora
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
immunotherapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.127
H-Index - 48
eISSN - 1750-7448
pISSN - 1750-743X
DOI - 10.2217/imt-2021-0195
Subject(s) - medicine , melanoma , transplantation , oncology , disease , immune checkpoint , nivolumab , progressive disease , kidney cancer , kidney transplantation , cancer , immunotherapy , cancer research
Kidney transplantation leads to an increased risk of cancer. Melanoma is one of the most frequent neoplasms in kidney transplant recipients. Transplanted patients were excluded from trials with checkpoint inhibitors in melanoma. The authors performed a systematic review regarding the use of anti-PD1 and anti-CTLA4 agents in renal transplanted patients with melanoma. Thirty-four cases were included (24 progressive disease, eight partial responses and one stable disease) but no complete response were reported. Fourteen graft rejections were observed, especially with anti-PD1 agent. The median time from the start of immune-checkpoint inhibitor and rejection was 21 days. Response rate was similar between patients with rejection and patients without rejection. The benefit of immune-checkpoint inhibitors versus the risk of allograft rejection should be carefully weighted for each patient. A multidisciplinary approach should be considered to discuss the most appropriate treatment for every case, given the aggressiveness of melanoma in these subsets of patients.