Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have greatly improved the survival in several cancers. Immune-related adverse events (irAEs) are common in patients on ICI therapy, as inhibition of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4) or programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) leads to non-selective activation of the immune system. ICI-induced enterocolitis is highly prevalent and corticosteroid administration is the first-line treatment. Selective immunosuppressive therapy was employed for steroid-refractory patients. The monoclonal antibody vedolizumab exhibits gut-specific immunosuppressive effects by targeting the α4β7 integrin.
Case description: We report a case of corticosteroid-dependent camrelizumab-induced enterocolitis in a 58-year-old man with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who was treated with vedolizumab. The patient's diarrhea resolved following the administration of two doses of vedolizumab (300 mg), and he was able to stop using corticosteroids. He later underwent surgery and HCC treatment, including appropriate management of ICI-induced enterocolitis, and achieved a complete pathological response.
Conclusions: This report illustrates the valuable role of vedolizumab in treating ICI-induced enterocolitis that is refractory to corticosteroid treatment.
Keywords: Immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced enterocolitis (ICI-induced enterocolitis); case report; corticosteroid therapy; hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); vedolizumab.
2024 Journal of Gastrointestinal Oncology. All rights reserved.