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. 2024 Jan 29;16(1):e53203. doi: 10.7759/cureus.53203

Pulmonary Tuberculosis Following Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Treatment for Recurrent Maxillary Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Shogo Kikuta 1,✉, Yushi Abe 1, Katsumi Shinozaki 1, Naoko Seki 1, Jingo Kusukawa 1
Editors: Alexander Muacevic, John R Adler
PMCID: PMC10902606  PMID: 38425601

Abstract

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) like nivolumab and pembrolizumab are effective treatments for recurrent/metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (R/M SCCHN). However, they can lead to immune-related adverse events (irAEs) and tuberculosis (TB) reactivation. We present a case of a 79-year-old male with recurrent maxillary squamous cell carcinoma treated with pembrolizumab, cisplatin, and 5-fluorouracil. The patient developed a fever, and pulmonary TB development was confirmed. Prolonged TB treatment was required, and ICI treatment was discontinued. The patient ultimately opted for palliative care due to aggressive tumor growth. TB development during ICI treatment is a rare but important concern, especially in TB-endemic areas. Vigilant monitoring and screening might be essential to manage this risk in cancer patients with R/M SCCHN receiving ICIs.

Keywords: pembrolizumab, oral cancer, immune checkpoint inhibitors, immune-related adverse events, mycobacterium tuberculosis

Introduction

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), encompassing anti-programmed death-1 (PD-1) as well as PD-L1 and PD-L2 agents, along with cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) signaling blockade, have demonstrated efficacy across a spectrum of malignancies [1,2]. Grounded in the outcomes of two pivotal clinical trials, namely the CheckMate 141 study and the KEYNOTE-048 study, two anti-PD-1 pharmaceuticals, nivolumab and pembrolizumab, have emerged as therapeutic options for recurrent/metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (R/M SCCHN) [3,4]. It is noteworthy that ICIs possess the potential to incite immune-related adverse events (irAEs), a profile distinct from traditional chemotherapeutic agents. In recent years, there has been a burgeoning corpus of literature documenting the reactivation of tuberculosis (TB) during the course of ICI administration [2,5]. Herein, we present a singular case wherein the development of pulmonary TB ensued subsequent to the initiation of ICI for the management of recurrent maxillary squamous cell carcinoma.

Case presentation

A 79-year-old man had previously undergone three partial maxillectomies, modified radical neck dissection, and concurrent chemoradiotherapy with a cumulative cisplatin dose of more than 200 mg/m2 for maxillary squamous cell carcinoma on the left side in our department. Subsequently, the patient revisited our department for consideration of partial maxillectomy for recurrent maxillary squamous cell carcinoma. The patient had no past medical history of tuberculosis and no smoking, immunosuppression situation, diabetes, or obesity. Histopathological analysis of the excised tissue unveiled a positive surgical margin. Immunohistochemical staining of the excised tissue was employed to probe the PD-L1 expression, which yielded a combined positive score (CPS) of 20. For the management of recurrent and recalcitrant squamous cell carcinoma of the craniofacial region, a regimen consisting of pembrolizumab (200 mg/body), cisplatin (80 mg/m²), and 5-fluorouracil (800 mg/m² per day for four consecutive days) was intravenously administered at three-week intervals. The patient underwent no TB screening prior to the drug administration. Following two cycles of this immuno-chemotherapeutic regimen, the patient developed pyrexia exceeding 38 degrees Celsius despite obtaining negative results on COVID-19 reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and rapid influenza tests. Subsequent chest radiography and computed tomography (CT) scans disclosed nodular radiographic manifestations suggestive of pneumonia within the upper right and lower left pulmonary fields (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Chest radiographic and high-resolution CT images.

Figure 1

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A) Chest radiography revealed an abnormal opacity of the right upper lobe lung (white circle). B, C) Axial high-resolution CT images of the chest revealed consolidations with cavitation in both upper lobes (white arrowheads) and solitary pulmonary nodules in the anterior segment and the left superior segment of the left lung (black arrowheads).

Consequently, a bronchoscopy was performed at the Department of Respiratory Medicine in our institution. Specimens procured from the apical region of the right lung exhibited positive outcomes in dry smear microscopy (Gaffky 1). Sputum samples underwent mycobacterial smear microscopy, culture, and nucleic acid amplification. All diagnostic tests yielded affirmative results, ultimately culminating in the diagnosis of pulmonary TB. The patient was immediately transferred to an isolation ward in another institute for TB treatment and received anti-TB medication, including rifampicin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol. Following a three-month hiatus prompted by a cutaneous eruption induced by the TB drug, isoniazid monotherapy was reinstated in conjunction with levofloxacin and streptomycin. Throughout TB treatment, the patient experienced a dearth of comprehensive examinations for oral cancer after ICI therapy, attributable to the absence of an oral and maxillofacial surgeon at the transferred hospital. Seven months after his transfer, the patient's quarantine status was rescinded. The patient subsequently presented at our department due to the emergence of aggressive neoplastic growth, accompanied by necrotic tissue, spanning from the median aspect of the palate to the left buccal mucosa. Radiographic assessment via chest CT indicated a reduction in the previously observed pulmonary infiltrates, transforming into nodular opacities with comparably homogeneous perimeters, suggesting old inflammatory changes after pulmonary TB (Figure 2A, B).

Figure 2. High-resolution CT and MRI images.

Figure 2

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A, B) High-resolution CT of the chest after eight months of anti-tuberculosis (TB) treatment represented the decrease of opacities and old inflammatory change after TB (white and black arrowheads). C) Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the head and neck region revealed the presence of an aggressive tumoral formation, extending from the left maxillary region to the masticatory muscle space, pterygopalatine fossa, suborbital fossa, accompanied by localized recurrence (white arrowheads).

Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the head and neck region unveiled the presence of an aggressive tumoral formation, extending from the left maxillary region to the masticatory muscle space, pterygopalatine fossa, suborbital fossa, accompanied by localized recurrence (Figure 2C). The patient and his family expressed a reluctance to pursue any further therapeutic interventions beyond this point. Consequently, a collective decision was reached to furnish the patient with the utmost in palliative care. One year after the diagnosis of TB, the patient died due to a nutritional disorder following tumor progression.

Discussion

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB) imposes a formidable global health burden, with approximately 1.7 billion individuals harboring latent TB infections worldwide [6]. TB constitutes a significant malady of global import, with an annual incidence of nine million new cases and a mortality rate of 1.5 million per annum [2,7]. Supplementary risk factors for TB infections encompass smoking, immunosuppression, diabetes, obesity, residency or travel in areas, inhabiting overcrowded environs, suboptimal nutritional status, and male gender [7]. Indeed, TB has earned the appellation of a disease transcending geographical boundaries, and notwithstanding its historical association with developing countries, mass human migration has effectively dispelled any notion of its confinement to these areas [8,9].

Cancer represents an intricate and multifarious consortium of maladies distinguished by the unbridled proliferation and division of aberrant cellular entities within the corporeal domain. It assumes paramount significance as a profound global health preoccupation, emerging as a preeminent etiology of mortality on a planetary scale. Immunotherapy, exemplified by ICIs, embodies a paradigm of oncological intervention harnessing the innate components of the immune system to combat neoplastic entities [10]. Immunotherapeutic modalities, whether employed in isolation or as adjunctive measures alongside conventional therapeutic regimens encompassing radiotherapy and chemotherapy, have attained substantial accolades as quintessential therapeutic modalities for a multitude of malignancies, including oral cancer [11]. On the other hand, by potentiating the immunological response, immune checkpoint blockade can engender inflammatory manifestations, denoted as irAEs. While irAEs have the capacity to affect virtually any organ system, their predilection typically encompasses the gastrointestinal tract, endocrine glands, integumentary system, and hepatic milieu [12]. Infrequently, the central nervous system, as well as the cardiovascular, pulmonary, musculoskeletal, and hematologic systems, may become implicated. Given the extensive spectrum of potential irAEs, their proficient management necessitates a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach involving healthcare providers spanning the entirety of the clinical continuum [13]. An expanding body of literature has recently surfaced, documenting instances of tuberculosis reactivation occurring concomitantly with ICI administration [2,5]. To the best of our knowledge, there have been some reports of TB reactivation following ICI therapy, including ipilimumab, nivolumab, pembrolizumab, and atezolizumab (Table 1) [5,14-29].

Table 1. Summary of case reports with tuberculosis reactivation after administration of immune checkpoint inhibitors.

TB - tuberculosis; ICI - immune checkpoint inhibitor; NSCLC - non-small cell lung cancer; SCC - squamous cell carcinoma; RFP - rifampicin; INH - isoniazid; EB - ethambutol; PZA -pyrazinamide; SM - streptomycin;

Author Year Age Sex Ethnicity Cancer ICIs Number of administrations Outcome of ICIs ICI reinitiation Previous therapy TB treatment Patient survival status
Lee et al. [14] 2016 87 Male Asian Hodgkin's lymphoma Pembrolizumab 5 Discontinuation Not specified ABVD chemotherapy, radiotherapy, clorambucil+prednisolone, gemcitabine+oxaliplatin, brentuximab vedotin REF, INH, EB, PZA Not specified
Fujita et al. [15] 2016 72 Female Asian Advanced NSCLC Nivolumab 8 Discontinuation Not specified Carboplatin+docetaxel, carboplatin+gemcitabine Not specified Not specified
Chu et al. [16] 2017 59 Male Asian Metastatic NSCLC Nivolumab 3 Skipped one cycle Yes Gefitinib, other unspecified chemotherapy Not specified Not specified
Jensen et al. [17] 2018 56 Male Caucasian Metastatic NSCLC Nivolumab 12 Discontinuation Not specified Unspecified chemoradiotherapy, pemetrexed Not specified Not specified
Picchi et al. [18] 2018 50 Male Caucasian Metastatic Melanoma Pembrolizumab 4 Continuation - None specified 4-drug regimen Alive
64 Male Caucasian Metastatic NSCLC Nivolumab 2 Discontinuation No None specified 4-drug regimen Deceased
Tetikkurt et al. [19] 2018 53 Male Not specified SCC of oral cavity Pembrolizumab 6 Discontinuation Yes Excisional biopsy, surgical resection, Cisplatin+radiation Not specified Alive
He et al. [20] 2018 65 Female Asian Advanced Melanoma Pembrolizumab 10 Discontinuation Yes Surgical resection, high-dose IL-2 RFP, INH, EB, PZA, SM, moxifloxacin Alive
Elkington et al. [21] 2018 62 Female Not specified Ocular Melanoma Ipilimumab, Pmabrolizumab Not specified Not specified Not specified Surgical resection Not specified Not specified
Takata et al. [22] 2019 75 Male Asian Metastatic NSCLC Nivolumab 15 Discontinuation Yes Carboplatin+pemetrexed, Carboplatin+albumin-bounded, paclitaxel, S-1+gemcitabine, palliative radiation REF, INH, EB, PZA Alive
Barber et al. [23] 2019 59 Male Asian Metastatic Nasopharyngeal cancer Nivolumab 3 Not specified Not specified Not specified RFP, INH, EB, PZA, SM Deceased
    83 Male Caucasian Metastatic MCC Pembrolizumab 12 Not specified Not specified Not specified REF, INH, EB, PZA Alive
Tsai et al. [24] 2019 49 Male Not specified SCC of hard palate Nivolumab 6 Discontinuation No Cisplatin+radiation, cetuximab, paclitaxel, carboplatin Not specified Deceased
van Eeden et al. [25] 2019 56 Female Caucasian Metastatic NSCLC Nivolumab Not specified Discontinuation No Gemcitabine+carboplatin, pemetrexed+radiation to hilar mass REF, INH, EB, PZA Deceased
Inthasot et al. [26] 2019 69 Male Not specified Metastatic lung adenocarcinoma Nivolumab 18 Not specified Not specified Cisplatin+pemetrexed, maintenance pemetrexed Not specified Not specified
Anastasopoulou et al. [27] 2019 76 Female Caucasian Advanced melanoma Nivolumab, Ipilimumab 8 Discontinuation No Interferon REF, INH, EB, PZA Deceased
85 Male Caucasian Metastatic melanoma Atezolizumab 9 Continuation - None REF, INH, PZA Alive
Lau et al. [5] 2021 29 Female Asian Metastatic Nasopharyngeal Ca Pembrolizumab Not specified Discontinuation Yes Gemcitabine+cisplatin, cisplatin + 5-fluorouracil, gemcitabine and carboplatin, capecitabine, metronomic cyclophosphamide, cisplatin + radiation REF, INH, EB, PZA Alive
Murakami et al. [28] 2021 73 Male Asian Metastatic NSCLC Pembrolizumab 5 Discontinuation Yes None REF, INH, EB, PZA Alive
Suliman et al. [29] 2021 58 Female Not specified Metastatic NSCLC Pembrolizumab 6 Discontinuation No None REF, INH, EB, PZA Alive
Our case 2022 79 Male Asian Recurrent maxillary SCC Pembrolizumab 2 Discontinuation No Surgical resection, cisplatin+radiation RFP, INH, EB, PZA, SM Deceased
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There have been only three cases of TB development as irAEs in oral cancer, including the present case, and this is extremely rare [19,24]. In Tabe 1, 14 out of 21 cases (66.7%) opted for the discontinuation of ICI treatment after TB development. Interestingly, six cases resumed ICI treatment, with five of these cases (83.3%) maintaining an alive status. In the present case, the absence of medical practitioners proficient in oral cancer treatment at the patient's transferred healthcare facility hindered cancer treatment during TB treatment, resulting in tumor growth. Hence, the prognosis of cancer in such cases may hinge upon the feasibility of continued ICI treatment concurrently with TB management.

The containment of TB in its latent state is achieved through vigilant surveillance of TB-targeted CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, which incidentally serve as the focal points of ICIs [30]. It is noteworthy that the pathophysiology underlying TB reactivation subsequent to ICI therapy is intricate and remains inadequately comprehended, encompassing both innate and adaptive immune responses [2]. Within the purview of the innate immune response, exposure to TB precipitates an upregulation of programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression on natural killer (NK) cells, a component of the innate immune system [2]. This, in turn, results in the liberation of interferon-γ (IFNγ) and subsequent NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Consequent interaction between PD-1 and its ligands, PD-L1 and PD-L2, may exert inhibitory effects on further NK cell activation, thus attenuating the potential for tissue damage caused by ongoing inflammation. Turning to the acquired immune response, TB can strategically exploit this arm of the immune system to evade host defenses by impeding IFNγ release and enhancing PD-1 expression, consequently suppressing CD8+ cell cytotoxicity [2]. Intriguingly, in vitro experimentation has demonstrated that the blockade of PD-1/PD-L1 interactions through ICI intervention augments CD8+ cell cytotoxicity against IFNγ-activated macrophages, thereby inciting TB reactivation [31]. It is paramount to recognize that PD-1/PD-L1 inhibition by ICIs has been substantiated in vitro as a mechanism potentiating CD8+ cell-mediated cytotoxicity against IFNγ-activated macrophages, ultimately leading to TB reactivation [2,5].

While guidelines have been disseminated for the screening of TB before the initiation of biological agents, such as anti-tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα), in the context of various chronic inflammatory ailments such as rheumatoid arthritis [5,32], it is noteworthy that a consensus regarding the routine screening for TB before the administration of ICIs in cancer patients remains conspicuously absent, especially in low endemic areas. Recent retrospective investigations have unveiled that TB infection has been observed in a mere 0.1 to 1.67 % of patients following PD-1/PD-L1 therapy [33-36]. It is worth emphasizing that in areas characterized by a higher prevalence of TB, the incidence of such infections would undoubtedly be significantly elevated. In the present case, the patient domiciled in a low-endemic area underwent no TB screening prior to ICI treatment. Since latent TB infection is associated with TB development as irAEs, the present case may also have had it.

Conclusions

In the present case at hand, TB developed subsequent to ICI treatment, resulting in the necessity for treatment interruption and the unwelcome resurgence of the malignancy. Despite the limited number of reported cases, it is incumbent upon us to underscore the imperative for a comprehensive appreciation of the potential for TB reactivation subsequent to the employment of ICIs in the treatment of R/M HNSCC.

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Author Contributions

Concept and design:  Shogo Kikuta, Yushi Abe, Katsumi Shinozaki, Naoko Seki, Jingo Kusukawa

Acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data:  Shogo Kikuta, Yushi Abe, Katsumi Shinozaki

Drafting of the manuscript:  Shogo Kikuta

Critical review of the manuscript for important intellectual content:  Shogo Kikuta, Yushi Abe, Katsumi Shinozaki, Naoko Seki, Jingo Kusukawa

Supervision:  Naoko Seki, Jingo Kusukawa

Human Ethics

Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study

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