Immune-checkpoint inhibitors in pituitary malignancies

Abstract

To date, there are no standardized systemic treatment options for patients with metastatic pituitary carcinoma progressed to chemo and radiation therapy. Immunecheckpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have been successfully assessed in other solid malignancies and could be a concrete hope for these patients. We performed a critical review of the literature aimed to evaluate studies assessing ICIs in pituitary malignancies. We also conducted research about published translational data assessing immune-contexture in these malignancies. Some preliminary reports reported a successful administration of pembrolizumab or the combination between nivolumab and ipilimumab in patients with metastatic ACTH-secreting pituitary carcinomas. Translational data suggest that adenomas secreting growth hormone and ACTH have a suppressed immunemicroenvironment, which could be more likely to benefit from ICIs. Immune-checkpoint inhibitors can be an effective treatment in patients with pituitary carcinoma and maybe also recurrent adenoma. Tumors secreting growth hormone and ACTH are more likely to benefit from ICIs due to a different immune-microenvironment. Anti-Cancer Drugs 33: e28-e35

Single Cell Metabolic Landscape of Pituitary Neuroendocrine Tumor Subgroups and Lineages

“…When standard therapies fail to treat aggressive PitNET subtypes, administration of temozolomide (TMZ) is indicated, despite progressive disease in 26% of recipient PitNET patients (median 9 cycles, n = 116, p = 0.01) [ 8 ]. Suboptimal response to TMZ also underscores the need to explore alternative therapies for aggressive PitNETs [ 9 , 10 ].…”