Fungal Infections Associated With the Use of Novel Immunotherapeutic Agents

Overview

Journal Curr Clin Microbiol Rep

Specialty Microbiology

Date 2021 Aug 2

PMID 34336548

Citations 10

Authors

Marilia Bernardes

Tobias M Hohl

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Purpose Of The Review: Recent concerns have emerged regarding the potential of immunotherapy to cause infection. In this review, we summarize the current literature on invasive fungal infections that occur during treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors and chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy.

Recent Findings: Fungal infections are uncommon with the use of checkpoint inhibitors. Most cases are caused by invasive aspergillosis and pneumocystis pneumonia and occur in patients requiring high dose corticosteroids for the management of immune-related adverse events. Conversely, fungal infections are commonly reported during therapy with CAR T cells. Most cases are caused by invasive aspergillosis and candidiasis and are likely the result of prolonged neutropenia following the conditioning regimen or immunosuppressant use for the management of cytokine release syndrome and neurotoxicity.

Summary: Treatment-related toxicities that require prolonged immunosuppressive agents appear to play a key role in the development of fungal infections during immunotherapy. Ongoing surveillance is needed to fully address the risks of fungal infections with these novel agents.

Citing Articles

Invasive Fungal Disease After Chimeric Antigen Receptor-T Immunotherapy in Adult and Pediatric Patients.

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Immune checkpoint inhibitor increased mortality in lung cancer patients with pneumonia: a comparative retrospective cohort study.

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New anticancer therapeutics impact fungal pathobiology, infection dynamics, and outcome.

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