Background: In solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients, transplant rejection during immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) treatment for cancer is a clinical problem. Donor-derived cell-free DNA (dd-cfDNA) can be detected in blood and is a sensitive biomarker for diagnosis of acute rejection in SOT recipients. To our best knowledge, this is the first case report of a kidney transplant recipient with advanced cancer treated with ICI who was monitored with dd-cfDNA.

Case Presentation: A 72-year old female with a long-standing renal transplant was diagnosed with advanced melanoma in 2018 and was treated with the anti-PD1 antibody nivolumab. Within 12 days after the first administration of nivolumab, dd-cfDNA ratio increased to 23%, suggesting allograft rejection. Her kidney transplant function deteriorated and acute rejection was confirmed by renal transplant biopsy. As the rejection could not be controlled despite immunosuppressive treatment, a transplant nephrectomy was necessary and haemodialysis was started. Immunological analysis of the renal explant showed infiltration of alloreactive, nivolumab-saturated, PD1+ cytotoxic T cells. After transplant nephrectomy, she experienced nivolumab-related toxicity and rapid disease progression.

Conclusion: Clinicians prescribing ICIs should be aware that SOT recipients are at risk of transplant rejection as a result of T cell activation. Dd-cfDNA is a sensitive biomarker and should be further studied for early detection of transplant rejection. Immunological analysis of the kidney explant showed marked graft infiltration with alloreactive PD-1 cytotoxic T cells that were saturated with nivolumab.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6626432PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s40425-019-0653-6DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

transplant rejection
16
kidney transplant
12
sot recipients
12
transplant
11
donor-derived cell-free
8
cell-free dna
8
rejection
8
sensitive biomarker
8
acute rejection
8
renal transplant
8

Similar Publications

Antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) remains a major complication after solid organ transplantation (SOT). Current treatment options are inefficient and result in drastic impairment of the general immunity. To selectively eliminate responsible alloreactive B cells characterized by anti-donor-HLA B-cell receptors (BCRs), we generated T cells overcoming rejection by antibodies (CORA-Ts) engineered with a novel chimeric receptor comprising a truncated donor-HLA molecule as antigen recognition domain.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Daratumumab followed by tocilizumab for treatment of late antibody-mediated rejection in renal transplant recipients with high or moderate levels of de novo donor-specific antibodies: a pilot study.

BMC Nephrol

January 2025

Institute of Organ Transplantation, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, NHC Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Wuhan, China.

Background: Effective treatment of late antibody-mediated rejection (late AMR) is still an unmet medical need. Clearing donor-specific antibody (DSA) and preventing its rebound is the ideal goal of treatment.

Methods: We have summarized the clinical data from seven patients with late or chronic active AMR after renal transplantation who received daratumumab (Dara)-based treatment first (Phase 1) and then tocilizumab (TCZ) therapy (Phase 2).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Serosurvey of Visceral Leishmaniasis in Organ Transplant Recipients in the South of Iran.

Transplant Proc

January 2025

Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran; Basic Sciences in Infectious Diseases Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. Electronic address:

Background: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) can become active and cause specific problems in transplant recipients. The current study was conducted with the aim of serological evaluation of VL in transplant patients in a comprehensive transplantation center in Fars province southern Iran.

Methods: The study population included 150 organ transplant recipients.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Short and Long-Term Outcomes of Lung Transplantation from Brain Death vs. Circulatory Death Donors: A Meta-analysis of Comparative Studies.

J Heart Lung Transplant

January 2025

Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN. Electronic address:

Objectives: To investigate through a meta-analysis of comparative studies the impact of donor type (brain death DBD vs circulatory death DCD) on the short- and long-term outcomes of lung transplantation(LTx).

Methods: Literature search (terms "lung transplantation" AND "donation after circulatory death") was performed up to July 2022 and studies comparing outcomes of LTx from DCD versus DBD were selected. Primary endpoints were early and long-term mortality.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Immunology in corneal transplantation-From homeostasis to graft rejection.

Transplant Rev (Orlando)

January 2025

Laboratory of Ocular Immunology, Transplantation, and Regeneration, Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address:

Immunology depends on maintaining a delicate balance within the human body, and disruptions can result in conditions such as autoimmune diseases, immunodeficiencies, and hypersensitivity reactions. This balance is especially crucial in transplantation immunology, where one of the primary challenges is preventing graft rejection. Such rejection can lead to organ failure, increased patient mortality, and higher healthcare costs due to the limited availability of donor tissues relative to patient needs.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!