Anti-CTLA-4 therapy-related autoimmune hypophysitis in a melanoma patient.

Abstract

Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) is an immunoregulatory molecule expressed by activated T cells and resting CD4+CD25 T cells. In patients with advanced melanoma, anti-CTLA-4 antibody therapy achieves cancer regression in 15% of patients. Treatment may be associated with grade III/IV autoimmune manifestations that included dermatitis, enterocolitis, hepatitis, uveitis, and rarely hypophysitis. Many of these toxicities require and respond to brief courses of high-dose corticosteroids. We report on a case of autoimmune hypophysitis with severe clinical symptoms that resolved rapidly after treatment with steroids. It is important to consider both autoimmune hypophysitis and brain metastasis in the differential diagnosis of melanoma patients receiving CTLA-4 blockade who present this constellation of symptoms.

• Authors: Katharina C Kaehler, Friederike Egberts, Paul Lorigan, Axel Hauschild
• Journal: Melanoma research (Melanoma Res) Vol. 19 Issue 5 Pg. 333-4 (Oct 2009) ISSN: 1473-5636 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 19512947 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Monoclonal
• Antigens, CD
• CTLA-4 Antigen
• CTLA4 protein, human
• Immunosuppressive Agents
• Ipilimumab

Topics

• Antibodies, Monoclonal (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Antigens, CD (immunology)
• Autoimmune Diseases (blood, chemically induced, pathology)
• CTLA-4 Antigen
• Humans
• Immunosuppressive Agents
• Ipilimumab
• Male
• Melanoma (complications, immunology, pathology, secondary)
• Middle Aged
• Pituitary Diseases (blood, chemically induced, pathology)