Nivolumab-induced cytokine-release syndrome in relapsed/refractory Hodgkin's lymphoma: a case report and literature review

Immunotherapy. 2018 Aug;10(11):913-917. doi: 10.2217/imt-2018-0025.

Abstract

Hodgkin's lymphoma is a common malignant disease, especially among children in America. Although chemotherapy and radiotherapy are mainstay treatments for Hodgkin's lymphoma, a small portion of patient experiences relapsed or refractory diseases. Nivolumab provides an option for patients who experience relapsed or refractory disease, but adverse effects may occur. Here, we report a patient with relapsed/refractory Hodgkin's lymphoma who experienced cytokine-release syndrome after his first dose of nivolumab. The patient eventually experienced complete remission after his fifth dose of nivolumab. Cytokine-release syndrome might reflect good efficacy during treatment of relapsed/refractory Hodgkin's lymphoma with nivolumab. However, health care providers, should stay alert and take appropriate measures if adverse effects, such as cytokine-release syndrome, occur.

Keywords: Hodgkin's lymphoma; cytokine-release syndrome; immunotherapy; refractory/relapsed.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antineoplastic Agents / adverse effects
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • C-Reactive Protein / metabolism
  • Disease Progression
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm
  • Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions / diagnosis*
  • Health Personnel
  • Hodgkin Disease / diagnosis
  • Hodgkin Disease / drug therapy*
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy / methods*
  • Interferon-gamma / metabolism
  • Interleukin-10 / metabolism
  • Male
  • Malignant Hyperthermia / diagnosis*
  • Malignant Hyperthermia / etiology
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local
  • Nivolumab / adverse effects
  • Nivolumab / therapeutic use*
  • Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography
  • Remission Induction
  • Salvage Therapy
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Interleukin-10
  • Nivolumab
  • Interferon-gamma
  • C-Reactive Protein