Outcome of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) related diarrhea/colitis (IMDC) in cancer patients with superimposed GI infections.

Abstract

e15166 Background: ICI therapies have revolutionized the landscape of cancer treatment. However, their increased use has also contributed to adverse events, e.g. IMDC. Clinically it is difficult to distinguish between infectious etiology or IMDC. It is unclear whether antimicrobial treatment substantially impacts the disease course. Here, we evaluated the characteristics and outcome of IMDC in cancer patients with superimposed diarrheagenic GI infections. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated cancer patients who received ICI with clinical symptoms of IMDC and confirmed stool microbiology of E. coli or non-CMV viral infections either at the time of IMDC, or within 60 days after IMDC diagnosis at MD Anderson Cancer Center 01/2011-08/2019. We described the disease course and outcome of IMDC based on their status of GI infection and antimicrobial treatment. Results: Total 72 patients were included, among them, 50 control patients with IMDC and no GI infection, 22 had diarrheagenic infections, composed of 17 E coli pathogens: Enteropathogenic, Enterotoxigenic, Enteroaggregative, and E coli 0157:H7 serotype; and 5 viral etiologies: Adenovirus, Norovirus, and Sapovirus. Patients in the infection group had higher grade of colitis (42.9% vs 18.4%, P = 0.041), and more frequent hospitalization (86.4% vs 62%, P = 0.052). 68.2% patients in the infection group received infliximab/vedolizumab add-on treatment compared to 40% in the no infection group (P = 0.078). Patients with GI infection and antimicrobial treatment had much higher IMDC recurrence rate than no antimicrobial treatment (50% vs 0, P = 0.015). GI infection was not associated with higher IMDC recurrence or worse overall survival of these patients. Conclusions: IMDC can occasionally be complicated by infection from common GI pathogens. Antimicrobial treatment was mostly used in severe IMDC cases and did not circumvent the need for immunosuppressant or improve the clinical outcomes. GI infection was not associated with higher IMDC recurrence or worse overall survival of these patients. [Table: see text]