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A case of HCC successfully treated with infliximab‐steroid sequential therapy for small bowel perforation due to atezolizumab/bevacizumab combination therapy

A case of HCC successfully treated with infliximab‐steroid sequential therapy for small bowel... INTRODUCTIONThe anti‐PD‐L1 antibody, an immune checkpoint inhibitor, exerts an antitumor effect mainly by maintaining the activation of T cells by inhibiting the binding of PD‐1 and PD‐L1.1 Anti‐ vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors have become the mainstay of cancer treatments where tumor growth is attributed to abundant neovascularization. Therefore, a combination therapy with atezolizumab and bevacizumab is considered as one of the standard treatment options for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).2However, immune‐related adverse events (irAEs), which can develop in various organs, have become a matter of concern.3–5 Although reports of gastrointestinal perforation after irAE enteritis are rare, the anti‐VEGF effect of bevacizumab may be involved in gastrointestinal perforation.6,7 Herein, we report a rare case of gastrointestinal perforation in a 72‐year‐old man with HCC being treated with atezolizumab/bevacizumab combination therapy.CASE REPORTA 72‐ year‐ old man was admitted to the Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology of our institute with the chief complaints of abdominal pain and diarrhea. The patient received a total of seven courses of atezolizumab/bevacizumab from October 2021 for HCC (Child Pugh grade A; Table 1) and subsequently developed idiopathic abdominal pain and diarrhea. He was treated with intestinal regulators for several days before being admitted to our hospital. The patient had a medical history of esophageal varices (Lm,F2,Cb,RC0 → post endoscopic variceal ligation) and portal vein thrombosis with no significant familial history and no smoking and drinking habits. At the time of referral, the patient was being orally administered famotidine (40 mg/day), entecavir hydrate (0.5 mg/day), warfarin potassium (2 mg/day), rifaximin (600 mg/day), and L‐isoleucine, leucine, and valine (12.45 mg/day).1TABLELaboratory data on the start of atezolizumab/bevacizumab treatmentHematologyBlood chemistryViral markerWBC2.83/μlTP6.8 g/dlHBsAg(+)RBC425 × 104/μlAlb3.5 g/dlHBV‐DNA(−)Hb14.5 g/dlBUN13 mg/dlHCVAb(−)Hct42.8%Cr0.75 mg/dlTumor markerPlt5.1 × 104/μlT‐Bil1.9 mg/dlAFP262 ng/mlNeutro62.9%D‐Bil0.6 mg/dlAFP‐L312.3%Lympho25.1%ALP152 U/LEosino2.5%AMY20 U/LEndocrineLDH231 U/LTSH3.80 μIU/mLAST43 U/LFT41.1 ng/dLALT24 U/LCoagulationγGTP21 U/LPT45.5%CRP0.124 mg/dlINR1.53Abbreviations: AFP, α‐fetoprotein; ALT, alanine aminotransferase; AST, aspartate aminotransferase; CRP, C‐reactive protein; HBsAg, hepatitis B surface antigen; HCVAb, hepatitis C virus antibody; INR, international normalized ratio; PLT, platelet; PT, prothrombin time.Physical examination at the time of admission revealed the following features:height, 165 cm; weight, 59.0 kg; body temperature, 37.5°C; blood pressure, 120/70 mmHg; pulse, 90 beats/min; and respiratory rate, 16 breaths/min. No rebound tendernesss in the middle of the abdomen was noted, but the liver was palpable by two lateral fingers and lower limb edema was observed. The blood test showed a marked increase in C‐reactive protein level (Table 2). In addition, albumin and platelet count levels were decreased, indicating liver cirrhosis. The patient tested positive for hepatitis B surface antigen, but negative for hepatitis virus B DNA.2TABLELaboratory data on admissionHematologyBlood chemistryViral markerWBC6.58/μlTP6.6 g/dlHBsAg(+)RBC413 × 104/μlAlb3.0 g/dlHBV‐DNA(−)Hb14.3 g/dlBUN25 mg/dlHCVAb(−)Hct42.7%Cr0.83 mg/dlTumor markerPlt6.0 × 104/μlT‐Bil3.1 mg/dlAFP115 ng/mLNeutro85.6%D‐Bil1.0 mg/dlAFP‐L318.7%Lympho7.3%ALP151 U/LImmunological testEosino0.5%AMY28 U/LCD372.6%EndocrineLDH281 U/LCD441.1%TSH3.91 μIU/mlAST42 U/LCD827.6%FT41.0 ng/dlALT24 U/LCoagulationγGTP17 U/LPT24.2%CRP13.298 mg/dlINR2.28PCT3.69 ng/mlAbbreviations: AFP, α‐fetoprotein; ALT, alanine aminotransferase; AST, aspartate aminotransferase; CD, cluster of differentiation; CRP, C‐reactive protein; HBsAg, hepatitis B surface antigen; HCVAb, hepatitis C virus antibody; INR, international normalized ratio; PCT, procalcitonin; PLT, platelet; PT, prothrombin time.Computed tomography (CT) performed on the first hospital day showed edema of the entire gastrointestinal tract. A colonoscopy performed on the second hospital day showed widespread edematous mucosa from the ileocecal region to the entire large intestine, but no erosion or ulcer was noted (Figure 1). On the third hospital day, the abdominal pain further increased, and a repeat CT showed air bubble in the mesentery and perforation of the jejunum (Figure 2); thus, an emergency surgery was performed. Intraoperative findings showed severe edema of the jejunum and leakage of feces into the abdominal cavity. However, the perforation could not be confirmed, and intraperitoneal lavage and drain placement were performed. Biopsy of the descending colon exhibited moderate lymphocyte infiltration in the subepithelial stroma, and the appearance of CD8‐positive cells, which was indicative of irAEs. A comprehensive diagnosis of irAE enteritis was made based on the course of treatment, which showed that the onset occurred after ICI administration, thickening of the intestinal wall on CT, and negative stool culture results. Although steroid treatment for irAE enteritis was considered, infliximab was administered in advance because it was immediately after perforation of the jejunum. CT performed on the 22nd hospital day, after a total of two doses of infliximab at two‐week intervals, confirmed improvement of enteritis and disappearance of free air. However, CT performed on the 35th day of illness showed relapse of gastrointestinal wall thickening and grade 2 symptoms of diarrhea appeared; therefore, administration of prednisolone (PSL) (60 mg/day) was initiated on the 36th day of illness. After the introduction of PSL, no recurrence of enteritis was observed. The CT performed on the 56th day of hospitalization showed improvement in enteritis, and the patient was discharged from the hospital on the 63rd day of illness, when PSL was gradually reduced to 15 mg/day. The clinical course of the disease has been presented in Figure 3. About 2 months have passed since discharge from the hospital, but there has been no recurrence of enteritis. Although chemotherapy was not restarted, there was no exacerbation of HCC, and quality of life was maintained. Written informed consent has been obtained from patients for the publication of case details and the use of images.1FIGUREColonoscopy and colon pathological findings. (A) Ileocecal (B) Descending colon. Colonoscopy was performed on the second day of hospitalization. Extensive edematous mucosa was found from the ileocecal region to the entire large intestine; no erosion or ulcer was noted. (C) CD4 staining (D) CD8 staining. Biopsies of the descending colon were performed. Moderate lymphocyte infiltration was observed in the subepithelial stroma, and CD8‐positive cells were also observed, suggesting immune‐related adverse events (irAE)2FIGUREChanges in computed tomography (CT) images with the course of treatment (Arrows indicate perforated sites). (A) CT image on the third day of hospitalization. Significant edema of the jejunum and large intestine was observed. An air bubble in the mesentery and a jejunal perforation were noted. (B) CT image on the 22nd day of hospitalization (after two doses of infliximab). Improvement of gastrointestinal wall thickening and disappearance of free air was confirmed. (C) CT image on the 35th hospitalization day. Relapse of gastrointestinal wall thickening was noted. (D) CT image on the 56th day of hospitalization (after introduction of prednisolone). Improvement in gastrointestinal wall thickening was noted3FIGUREClinical course. Seven courses of atezolizumab/bevacizumab were administered for hepatocellular carcinoma, but idiopathic abdominal pain and diarrhea (grade 2) developed. On the third day after admission, jejunal perforation was observed, and emergency surgery was performed. After two doses of infliximab at two‐week intervals, improvement of enteritis and disappearance of free air were confirmed. Thereafter, grade 2 diarrhea relapsed and the patient was administered on PSL (60 mg/day.) The patient was discharged on the 63rd day after admission. CRP, C‐reactive protein; PSL, prednisoloneDISCUSSIONSIrAEs is a problem peculiar to immune checkpoint inhibitors and is caused due to an autoimmune reaction. IrAEs can occur in all organs, and in addition to colitis, endocrine abnormalities, rashes, interstitial pneumonia, liver damage,3–5 and infrequent but fatal side effects have also been reported.8 However, perforation of the gastrointestinal tract is extremely rare, as in this case.6,7 In contrast, anti‐VEGF inhibitors reportedly have a high risk of gastrointestinal perforation. Bevacizumab binds to VEGF and inhibits angiogenesis by preventing the interaction of VEGF with endothelial cell surface receptors. Although it has been investigated mainly for colorectal cancer, the incidence of gastrointestinal perforation in bevacizumab combination chemotherapy is 0.9%–3.6%, and the onset time is often within 6 months after the start of administration.9 Additionally, Cao et al. reported that the frequency of gastrointestinal perforation with chemotherapy without bevacizumab is 0.13% (2/1508), whereas that in the bevacizumab group is 1.0% (15/14912).10 The mortality rate of gastrointestinal perforation is reported to be as high as 21.5%.9 These reports reported the incidence of colorectal cancer, especially at the infiltration site of colorectal cancer. On the other hand, there is also a report that perforation occurred in the small intestine without cancer infiltration,11 and there is a possibility of perforation risk regardless of the presence or absence of cancer infiltration.Perforation of the esophagogastric junction has also been reported in combination therapy with atezolizumab/bevacizumab.12 However, this case had a history of intra‐abdominal stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR), which is a major difference from our case.In this case, enteritis developed approximately 4 months after combination therapy with atezolizumab and bevacizumab, and gastrointestinal perforation occurred within a short span of 1 week after the onset of enteritis. It is also important to determine whether the causes of enteritis and gastrointestinal perforation was the use of anti‐PD‐L1 antibody or anti‐VEGF inhibitors. Infiltration of CD8‐positive lymphocytes in the endoscopic colorectal biopsy was observed despite the early onset of enteritis, suggesting irAE enteritis. However, as mentioned above, gastrointestinal perforation by anti‐PD‐L1 antibodies is extremely rare; hence, it is possible that anti‐VEGF inhibitors also had an effect. VEGF is involved in angiogenesis, which occurs during the proliferative phase of wound healing where granulation is promoted. In other words, it is highly possible that inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract and delayed wound healing due to VEGF inhibition interacted, leading to gastrointestinal perforation.The treatment of irAE enteritis is based on guideline. The Japanese Society for Medical Oncology (JSMO) recommends that prednisolone 0.5–1 mg/day be initiated if G2 diarrhea persists for 3 days or longer. If G2 diarrhea persists for more than 1 week or if it transforms to G3 diarrhea, prednisolone 1–2 mg/day is recommended. In addition, for steroid resistance, we recommend an additional dose of infliximab (5 mg/kg) within 3 days. American Society for Medical Oncology (ASCO) and European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) guideline also recommend immediate addition of infliximab for steroid‐resistant cases.13,14 In this case, gastrointestinal perforation occurred due to irAE enteritis and fecal matter leaked into the abdominal cavity. However, the perforation could not be located during surgery, and there was a concern that re‐perforation and peritonitis would develop owing to the persistence of irAE enteritis. Therefore, early intervention is essential for irAE enteritis. Although steroid administration was originally recommended for each GL, infliximab was administered prior to steroid administration in consideration of the delayed wound healing (approved by the Clinical Ethics Committee of this hospital). Infliximab administration temporarily improved enteritis, but irAE enteritis relapse was observed after two courses of administration. After confirming that there was no reperforation or infection complications during infliximab administration, steroid administration was initiated. Enteritis improvement was confirmed again, and the patient was discharged from the hospital. We believe that delaying the timing of steroid administration prior to infliximab may have contributed to the patient's recovery. In conclusion, we describe a case of small intestinal perforation caused by atezolizumab/bevacizumab combination therapy used for HCC, which was successfully managed by prior administration of infliximab before steroids. As per our knowledge, this is the first case to report gastrointestinal perforation caused due to atezolizumab/bevacizumab combination therapy used for HCC.AUTHOR CONTRIBUTIONSSatoru Hagiwara: Conceptualization (equal); writing – original draft (equal). Yoriaki Komeda: Conceptualization (equal); data curation (equal). Naoshi Nishida: Supervision (equal). Akihiro Yoshida: Supervision (equal). Masatoshi Kudo: Supervision (equal).ACKNOWLEDGMENTSNone.CONFLICT OF INTERESTThe authors declare no conflict of interest.DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENTN/A.ETHICS STATEMENTThe patient has consented to the release of this information.REFERENCESSharon E, Streicher H, Goncalves P, Chen HX. Immune checkpoint inhibitors in clinical trials. Chin J Cancer. 2014;33:434‐444.Finn RS, Qin S, Ikeda M, et al. atezolizumab plus bevacizumab in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. N Engl J Med. 2020;382:1894‐1905.Postow MA, Sidlow R, Hellmann MD. Immune‐related adverse events associated with immune checkpoint blockades. N Engl J Med. 2018;378:158‐168.Michot JM, Bigenwald C, Champiat S, et al. Immune‐related adverse events associated with immune checkpoint blockade: a comprehensive review. Eur J Cancer. 2016;54:139‐148.Friedman CF, Proverbs‐Singh TA, Postow MA. Treatment of immune‐related adverse effects of immune checkpoint inhibitors: a review. JAMA Oncol. 2016;2:1346‐1353.Papageorgiou GI, Fergadis E, Skouteris N, et al. Perforated appendicitis induced by pembrolizumab: a case report and review of the literature. Anticancer Drugs. 2022;33:208‐213.Tso DK, Avery LL, Lev MH, Kamalian S. Nivolumab‐induced small bowel obstruction and perforation: a rare but life‐threatening side effect of immunotherapy. Emerg Radiol. 2020;27:107‐110.Kanemura H, Hayashi H, Hagiwara S, et al. Severe immune‐related hepatitis treated with plasma exchange. J Thorac Oncol. 2020;15:e39‐e42.Badgwell BD, Camp ER, Feig B, et al. Management of bevacizumab‐associated bowel perforation: a case series and literature review. Ann Oncol. 2008;19:577‐582.Cao Y, Tan A, Gao F, Liu L, Liao C, Mo Z. A meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials comparing chemotherapy plus bevacizumab with chemotherapy alone for metastatic colorectal cancer. Int J Colorectal Dis. 2009;24:677‐685.Lecarpentier E, Ouaffi L, Mir O, et al. Bevacizumab‐induced small bowel perforation in a patient with breast cancer without intraabdominal metastases. Invest New Drugs. 2011;29:1500‐1503.Gunjur A, Chong G, Lim A, et al. Occult gastrointestinal perforation in a patient with EGFR‐mutant non‐small‐cell lung cancer receiving combination chemotherapy with atezolizumab and bevacizumab: brief report. Clin Lung Cancer. 2020;21:e57‐e60.Brahmer JR, Lacchetti C, Schneider BJ, et al. Management of immune‐related adverse events in patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy: American Society of Clinical Oncology clinical practice guideline. J Clin Oncol. 2018;36:1714‐1768.Haanen JBAG, Carbonnel F, Robert C, et al. Management of toxicities from immunotherapy: ESMO clinical practice guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow‐up. Ann Oncol. 2017;28:iv119–42. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Cancer Reports Wiley

A case of HCC successfully treated with infliximab‐steroid sequential therapy for small bowel perforation due to atezolizumab/bevacizumab combination therapy

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© 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC.
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2573-8348
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Abstract

INTRODUCTIONThe anti‐PD‐L1 antibody, an immune checkpoint inhibitor, exerts an antitumor effect mainly by maintaining the activation of T cells by inhibiting the binding of PD‐1 and PD‐L1.1 Anti‐ vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors have become the mainstay of cancer treatments where tumor growth is attributed to abundant neovascularization. Therefore, a combination therapy with atezolizumab and bevacizumab is considered as one of the standard treatment options for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).2However, immune‐related adverse events (irAEs), which can develop in various organs, have become a matter of concern.3–5 Although reports of gastrointestinal perforation after irAE enteritis are rare, the anti‐VEGF effect of bevacizumab may be involved in gastrointestinal perforation.6,7 Herein, we report a rare case of gastrointestinal perforation in a 72‐year‐old man with HCC being treated with atezolizumab/bevacizumab combination therapy.CASE REPORTA 72‐ year‐ old man was admitted to the Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology of our institute with the chief complaints of abdominal pain and diarrhea. The patient received a total of seven courses of atezolizumab/bevacizumab from October 2021 for HCC (Child Pugh grade A; Table 1) and subsequently developed idiopathic abdominal pain and diarrhea. He was treated with intestinal regulators for several days before being admitted to our hospital. The patient had a medical history of esophageal varices (Lm,F2,Cb,RC0 → post endoscopic variceal ligation) and portal vein thrombosis with no significant familial history and no smoking and drinking habits. At the time of referral, the patient was being orally administered famotidine (40 mg/day), entecavir hydrate (0.5 mg/day), warfarin potassium (2 mg/day), rifaximin (600 mg/day), and L‐isoleucine, leucine, and valine (12.45 mg/day).1TABLELaboratory data on the start of atezolizumab/bevacizumab treatmentHematologyBlood chemistryViral markerWBC2.83/μlTP6.8 g/dlHBsAg(+)RBC425 × 104/μlAlb3.5 g/dlHBV‐DNA(−)Hb14.5 g/dlBUN13 mg/dlHCVAb(−)Hct42.8%Cr0.75 mg/dlTumor markerPlt5.1 × 104/μlT‐Bil1.9 mg/dlAFP262 ng/mlNeutro62.9%D‐Bil0.6 mg/dlAFP‐L312.3%Lympho25.1%ALP152 U/LEosino2.5%AMY20 U/LEndocrineLDH231 U/LTSH3.80 μIU/mLAST43 U/LFT41.1 ng/dLALT24 U/LCoagulationγGTP21 U/LPT45.5%CRP0.124 mg/dlINR1.53Abbreviations: AFP, α‐fetoprotein; ALT, alanine aminotransferase; AST, aspartate aminotransferase; CRP, C‐reactive protein; HBsAg, hepatitis B surface antigen; HCVAb, hepatitis C virus antibody; INR, international normalized ratio; PLT, platelet; PT, prothrombin time.Physical examination at the time of admission revealed the following features:height, 165 cm; weight, 59.0 kg; body temperature, 37.5°C; blood pressure, 120/70 mmHg; pulse, 90 beats/min; and respiratory rate, 16 breaths/min. No rebound tendernesss in the middle of the abdomen was noted, but the liver was palpable by two lateral fingers and lower limb edema was observed. The blood test showed a marked increase in C‐reactive protein level (Table 2). In addition, albumin and platelet count levels were decreased, indicating liver cirrhosis. The patient tested positive for hepatitis B surface antigen, but negative for hepatitis virus B DNA.2TABLELaboratory data on admissionHematologyBlood chemistryViral markerWBC6.58/μlTP6.6 g/dlHBsAg(+)RBC413 × 104/μlAlb3.0 g/dlHBV‐DNA(−)Hb14.3 g/dlBUN25 mg/dlHCVAb(−)Hct42.7%Cr0.83 mg/dlTumor markerPlt6.0 × 104/μlT‐Bil3.1 mg/dlAFP115 ng/mLNeutro85.6%D‐Bil1.0 mg/dlAFP‐L318.7%Lympho7.3%ALP151 U/LImmunological testEosino0.5%AMY28 U/LCD372.6%EndocrineLDH281 U/LCD441.1%TSH3.91 μIU/mlAST42 U/LCD827.6%FT41.0 ng/dlALT24 U/LCoagulationγGTP17 U/LPT24.2%CRP13.298 mg/dlINR2.28PCT3.69 ng/mlAbbreviations: AFP, α‐fetoprotein; ALT, alanine aminotransferase; AST, aspartate aminotransferase; CD, cluster of differentiation; CRP, C‐reactive protein; HBsAg, hepatitis B surface antigen; HCVAb, hepatitis C virus antibody; INR, international normalized ratio; PCT, procalcitonin; PLT, platelet; PT, prothrombin time.Computed tomography (CT) performed on the first hospital day showed edema of the entire gastrointestinal tract. A colonoscopy performed on the second hospital day showed widespread edematous mucosa from the ileocecal region to the entire large intestine, but no erosion or ulcer was noted (Figure 1). On the third hospital day, the abdominal pain further increased, and a repeat CT showed air bubble in the mesentery and perforation of the jejunum (Figure 2); thus, an emergency surgery was performed. Intraoperative findings showed severe edema of the jejunum and leakage of feces into the abdominal cavity. However, the perforation could not be confirmed, and intraperitoneal lavage and drain placement were performed. Biopsy of the descending colon exhibited moderate lymphocyte infiltration in the subepithelial stroma, and the appearance of CD8‐positive cells, which was indicative of irAEs. A comprehensive diagnosis of irAE enteritis was made based on the course of treatment, which showed that the onset occurred after ICI administration, thickening of the intestinal wall on CT, and negative stool culture results. Although steroid treatment for irAE enteritis was considered, infliximab was administered in advance because it was immediately after perforation of the jejunum. CT performed on the 22nd hospital day, after a total of two doses of infliximab at two‐week intervals, confirmed improvement of enteritis and disappearance of free air. However, CT performed on the 35th day of illness showed relapse of gastrointestinal wall thickening and grade 2 symptoms of diarrhea appeared; therefore, administration of prednisolone (PSL) (60 mg/day) was initiated on the 36th day of illness. After the introduction of PSL, no recurrence of enteritis was observed. The CT performed on the 56th day of hospitalization showed improvement in enteritis, and the patient was discharged from the hospital on the 63rd day of illness, when PSL was gradually reduced to 15 mg/day. The clinical course of the disease has been presented in Figure 3. About 2 months have passed since discharge from the hospital, but there has been no recurrence of enteritis. Although chemotherapy was not restarted, there was no exacerbation of HCC, and quality of life was maintained. Written informed consent has been obtained from patients for the publication of case details and the use of images.1FIGUREColonoscopy and colon pathological findings. (A) Ileocecal (B) Descending colon. Colonoscopy was performed on the second day of hospitalization. Extensive edematous mucosa was found from the ileocecal region to the entire large intestine; no erosion or ulcer was noted. (C) CD4 staining (D) CD8 staining. Biopsies of the descending colon were performed. Moderate lymphocyte infiltration was observed in the subepithelial stroma, and CD8‐positive cells were also observed, suggesting immune‐related adverse events (irAE)2FIGUREChanges in computed tomography (CT) images with the course of treatment (Arrows indicate perforated sites). (A) CT image on the third day of hospitalization. Significant edema of the jejunum and large intestine was observed. An air bubble in the mesentery and a jejunal perforation were noted. (B) CT image on the 22nd day of hospitalization (after two doses of infliximab). Improvement of gastrointestinal wall thickening and disappearance of free air was confirmed. (C) CT image on the 35th hospitalization day. Relapse of gastrointestinal wall thickening was noted. (D) CT image on the 56th day of hospitalization (after introduction of prednisolone). Improvement in gastrointestinal wall thickening was noted3FIGUREClinical course. Seven courses of atezolizumab/bevacizumab were administered for hepatocellular carcinoma, but idiopathic abdominal pain and diarrhea (grade 2) developed. On the third day after admission, jejunal perforation was observed, and emergency surgery was performed. After two doses of infliximab at two‐week intervals, improvement of enteritis and disappearance of free air were confirmed. Thereafter, grade 2 diarrhea relapsed and the patient was administered on PSL (60 mg/day.) The patient was discharged on the 63rd day after admission. CRP, C‐reactive protein; PSL, prednisoloneDISCUSSIONSIrAEs is a problem peculiar to immune checkpoint inhibitors and is caused due to an autoimmune reaction. IrAEs can occur in all organs, and in addition to colitis, endocrine abnormalities, rashes, interstitial pneumonia, liver damage,3–5 and infrequent but fatal side effects have also been reported.8 However, perforation of the gastrointestinal tract is extremely rare, as in this case.6,7 In contrast, anti‐VEGF inhibitors reportedly have a high risk of gastrointestinal perforation. Bevacizumab binds to VEGF and inhibits angiogenesis by preventing the interaction of VEGF with endothelial cell surface receptors. Although it has been investigated mainly for colorectal cancer, the incidence of gastrointestinal perforation in bevacizumab combination chemotherapy is 0.9%–3.6%, and the onset time is often within 6 months after the start of administration.9 Additionally, Cao et al. reported that the frequency of gastrointestinal perforation with chemotherapy without bevacizumab is 0.13% (2/1508), whereas that in the bevacizumab group is 1.0% (15/14912).10 The mortality rate of gastrointestinal perforation is reported to be as high as 21.5%.9 These reports reported the incidence of colorectal cancer, especially at the infiltration site of colorectal cancer. On the other hand, there is also a report that perforation occurred in the small intestine without cancer infiltration,11 and there is a possibility of perforation risk regardless of the presence or absence of cancer infiltration.Perforation of the esophagogastric junction has also been reported in combination therapy with atezolizumab/bevacizumab.12 However, this case had a history of intra‐abdominal stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR), which is a major difference from our case.In this case, enteritis developed approximately 4 months after combination therapy with atezolizumab and bevacizumab, and gastrointestinal perforation occurred within a short span of 1 week after the onset of enteritis. It is also important to determine whether the causes of enteritis and gastrointestinal perforation was the use of anti‐PD‐L1 antibody or anti‐VEGF inhibitors. Infiltration of CD8‐positive lymphocytes in the endoscopic colorectal biopsy was observed despite the early onset of enteritis, suggesting irAE enteritis. However, as mentioned above, gastrointestinal perforation by anti‐PD‐L1 antibodies is extremely rare; hence, it is possible that anti‐VEGF inhibitors also had an effect. VEGF is involved in angiogenesis, which occurs during the proliferative phase of wound healing where granulation is promoted. In other words, it is highly possible that inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract and delayed wound healing due to VEGF inhibition interacted, leading to gastrointestinal perforation.The treatment of irAE enteritis is based on guideline. The Japanese Society for Medical Oncology (JSMO) recommends that prednisolone 0.5–1 mg/day be initiated if G2 diarrhea persists for 3 days or longer. If G2 diarrhea persists for more than 1 week or if it transforms to G3 diarrhea, prednisolone 1–2 mg/day is recommended. In addition, for steroid resistance, we recommend an additional dose of infliximab (5 mg/kg) within 3 days. American Society for Medical Oncology (ASCO) and European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) guideline also recommend immediate addition of infliximab for steroid‐resistant cases.13,14 In this case, gastrointestinal perforation occurred due to irAE enteritis and fecal matter leaked into the abdominal cavity. However, the perforation could not be located during surgery, and there was a concern that re‐perforation and peritonitis would develop owing to the persistence of irAE enteritis. Therefore, early intervention is essential for irAE enteritis. Although steroid administration was originally recommended for each GL, infliximab was administered prior to steroid administration in consideration of the delayed wound healing (approved by the Clinical Ethics Committee of this hospital). Infliximab administration temporarily improved enteritis, but irAE enteritis relapse was observed after two courses of administration. After confirming that there was no reperforation or infection complications during infliximab administration, steroid administration was initiated. Enteritis improvement was confirmed again, and the patient was discharged from the hospital. We believe that delaying the timing of steroid administration prior to infliximab may have contributed to the patient's recovery. In conclusion, we describe a case of small intestinal perforation caused by atezolizumab/bevacizumab combination therapy used for HCC, which was successfully managed by prior administration of infliximab before steroids. As per our knowledge, this is the first case to report gastrointestinal perforation caused due to atezolizumab/bevacizumab combination therapy used for HCC.AUTHOR CONTRIBUTIONSSatoru Hagiwara: Conceptualization (equal); writing – original draft (equal). Yoriaki Komeda: Conceptualization (equal); data curation (equal). Naoshi Nishida: Supervision (equal). Akihiro Yoshida: Supervision (equal). Masatoshi Kudo: Supervision (equal).ACKNOWLEDGMENTSNone.CONFLICT OF INTERESTThe authors declare no conflict of interest.DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENTN/A.ETHICS STATEMENTThe patient has consented to the release of this information.REFERENCESSharon E, Streicher H, Goncalves P, Chen HX. Immune checkpoint inhibitors in clinical trials. Chin J Cancer. 2014;33:434‐444.Finn RS, Qin S, Ikeda M, et al. atezolizumab plus bevacizumab in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. N Engl J Med. 2020;382:1894‐1905.Postow MA, Sidlow R, Hellmann MD. Immune‐related adverse events associated with immune checkpoint blockades. N Engl J Med. 2018;378:158‐168.Michot JM, Bigenwald C, Champiat S, et al. Immune‐related adverse events associated with immune checkpoint blockade: a comprehensive review. Eur J Cancer. 2016;54:139‐148.Friedman CF, Proverbs‐Singh TA, Postow MA. Treatment of immune‐related adverse effects of immune checkpoint inhibitors: a review. JAMA Oncol. 2016;2:1346‐1353.Papageorgiou GI, Fergadis E, Skouteris N, et al. Perforated appendicitis induced by pembrolizumab: a case report and review of the literature. Anticancer Drugs. 2022;33:208‐213.Tso DK, Avery LL, Lev MH, Kamalian S. Nivolumab‐induced small bowel obstruction and perforation: a rare but life‐threatening side effect of immunotherapy. Emerg Radiol. 2020;27:107‐110.Kanemura H, Hayashi H, Hagiwara S, et al. Severe immune‐related hepatitis treated with plasma exchange. J Thorac Oncol. 2020;15:e39‐e42.Badgwell BD, Camp ER, Feig B, et al. Management of bevacizumab‐associated bowel perforation: a case series and literature review. Ann Oncol. 2008;19:577‐582.Cao Y, Tan A, Gao F, Liu L, Liao C, Mo Z. A meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials comparing chemotherapy plus bevacizumab with chemotherapy alone for metastatic colorectal cancer. 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Journal

Cancer Reports – Wiley

Published: Nov 1, 2022

Keywords: atezolizumab; hepatocellular carcinoma; infliximab; intestinal perforation; steroids

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