PD-1 Blockade in a Liver Transplant Recipient With Microsatellite Unstable Metastatic Colorectal Cancer and Hepatic Impairment

Authors:
Justin A. Chen Department of Hematology and Oncology, University of California, Davis, Sacramento,

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Naseem Esteghamat Department of Hematology and Oncology, University of California, Davis, Sacramento,

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 MD, MS
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Edward J. Kim Department of Hematology and Oncology, University of California, Davis, Sacramento,

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 MD, PhD
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Gabriel Garcia Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Stanford University, Stanford,

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Jun Gong Department of Medical Oncology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, and

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Marwan G. Fakih Department of Medical Oncology & Therapeutics Research, City of Hope, Duarte, California.

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Richard J. Bold Department of Hematology and Oncology, University of California, Davis, Sacramento,

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May T. Cho Department of Hematology and Oncology, University of California, Davis, Sacramento,

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Volume/Issue:
Volume 17: Issue 9
Online Publication Date:
Sep 2019
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.6004/jnccn.2019.7328
Restricted access

Immune checkpoint inhibitors represent a newly established standard of care in patients with refractory metastatic colorectal cancer with mismatch repair deficiency and microsatellite instability. However, the use of immunotherapy is unclear in recipients of liver transplants with or without concurrent liver function abnormalities. Clinical trials investigating immunotherapy have mostly excluded liver transplant recipients and patients with abnormal liver function. This report presents the first case, to our knowledge, of a liver transplant patient with mismatch repair–deficient colon adenocarcinoma with liver metastases and concurrent abnormal liver function who safely responded to immunotherapy. We also review the literature on checkpoint inhibitor use in patients with other metastatic solid tumors after liver transplant and those with baseline liver function abnormalities. An increasing body of evidence supports the safety of checkpoint inhibition in patients with cancer and solid organ transplants, but further prospective studies are warranted. Use of immunotherapy in liver transplant recipients who have metastatic colorectal cancer with microsatellite instability is feasible but should be performed in a multidisciplinary team setting.

Submitted December 17, 2019; accepted for publication April 26, 2019.

Disclosures: Dr. Kim has disclosed that he receives grant/research support from Celgene, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Astellas, Samumed, Boston Biomedical, Halozyme Therapeutics, EpicentRx, Merck & Co, and OncoMed Pharmaceuticals. The remaining authors have disclosed that they have not received any financial considerations from any person or organization to support the preparation, analysis, results, or discussion of this article.

Correspondence: Justin A. Chen, MD, Department of Hematology and Oncology, University of California, Davis, 4501 X Street, Suite 3016, Sacramento, CA 95817. Email: jachen@ucdavis.edu
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Print ISSN:
1540-1405
Online ISSN:
1540-1413
Publisher:
National Comprehensive Cancer Network
Cover Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network
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Copyright:
Copyright © 2019 by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network 2019
Page Numbers:
5
Article Category:
Other
Received:
17 Dec 2019
Accepted:
26 Apr 2019
Print Publication Date:
01 Sep 2019
Online Publication Date:
Sep 2019

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