Proximal Gastrointestinal Ulcerations: A Potential Complication of Atezolizumab Therapy?

Pembrolizumab-induced esophagitis dissecans superficialis in a patient with squamous cell lung carcinoma

“…Currently, ICIs are used for advanced cancers, and they often cause irAEs, including gastrointestinal mucositis. ICIs-induced esophagitis is thought to be rare and to our knowledge, 26 previous cases of esophagitis caused by ICIs have been published: 10 cases with nivolumab 2-11) , 4 with nivolumab and ipilimumab [12][13][14][15] , 9 with pembrolizumab 8, [16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23] , 1 with atezolizumab 24) , 1 with avelumab 25) , and 1 with durvalumab 26) . In many of these cases, besides discontinuation of the ICI, administration of corticosteroids was required.…”

Atezolizumab, a PD-L1 Inhibitor: An Association of Bleeding Gastric Ulcer With Its Use

“…Swei et al in their case report of a 71-year-old male with metastatic urothelial carcinoma who had odynophagia after two doses of atezolizumab showed LA grade 4 esophagitis, diffuse gastritis, and severe duodenitis on EGD. These findings were attributed to atezolizumab after other etiologies were ruled out [ 11 ]. Fujji et al reported a case of a middle-aged man who developed cholangitis and gastritis after atezolizumab.…”