Development of Aseptic Renal Abscess in a Patient with Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer with ALK Translocation during Crizotinib Treatment ()
Received 23 January 2016; accepted 26 February 2016; published 29 February 2016
1. Introduction
The activating mutation or translocation of anaplastic lymphoma kinase gene (ALK) is present at 2% to 7% of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) [1] [2] and it is also described on large cell linfoma [3] and neuroblastoma [4] . The prevalence of ALK mutation in NSCLC is higher in patients with adenocarcinoma who have little or no exposure to tobacco [2] [5] .
Crizotinib is a selective oral inhibitor of small tyrosine kinase molecules ALK, mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor (MET) and ROS1 that inhibits the phosphorylation and thus activation of the ALK, MET and ROS1 through competitive inhibition with ATP [2] [6] [7] .
Phase 3 trials showed that the inhibition of ALK with Crizotinib in lung tumors with the ALK rearrangement resulted in benefit in progression-free survival, symptom control and response rate in both first and second line with response rate of 68% - 75% and progression-free survival of 10.9 months [8] [9] .
Common adverse events associated with Crizotinib are nausea, vomiting, fatigue, visual change, change in appetite, edema lifting transaminases and interstitial lung disease [8] [10] .
PROFILE 1005 [11] , a phase II trial, reported the first two cases of renal cyst during Crizotinib treatment. Other cases were reported subsequently, suggesting a causal association with Crizotinib [11] .
In a retrospective analysis, among 1205 patients who received Crizotinib in the two largest Crizotinib clinical trials (PROFILE 1005 [11] and PROFILE 1007 [9] ), 24 patients (2%) had adverse effects of treatment-related renal cysts [12] . In four clinical trials, 17 patients had renal cysts reported as serious adverse event [12] .
In a blinded retrospective radiologic review of 272 patients treated with Crizotinib enrolled in PROFILE 1001 [10] , PROFILE 1005 [11] , or PROFILE 1007 [9] , in six months, 9% of the patients developed renal cysts. Seventeen patients had severe side effects related to complex renal cysts, such as invasion of adjacent structures [12] .
We report a case of a patient with NSCLC ALK translocation who developed multiple, bilateral aseptic renal abscesses on treatment with Crizotinib.
2. Case Report
We report a 68-year-old woman diagnosed with NSCLC with a recurrent, stage IV adenocarcinoma of the lung with ALK rearrangement who was treated in third line with Crizotinb. At the time of treatment initiation, the abdominal CAT scan showed only the presence of subcentrimetric renal cysts, which have been unchanged for several years. Crizotinib was started and shortly after a PET-CT documented tumor shrinkage.
Six months after the treatment was she developed intermittent dysuria and weight loss, while urine analysis remained normal. MRI of the abdomen showed new nodular lesions with intermediate signal and significant restriction of diffusion, in both kidneys. These lesions were not coincident with the previously known renal cysts (Figure 1).
An abdominal MRI was repeated 8 weeks later and showed these lesions as cystic/liquefied images with intermediate signal in T2 and significant restriction, increased in size and number. There was no evidence of tumor progression.
A percutaneous puncture and drainage of the cyst at the upper pole of the left kidney guided by computed tomography was performed, with the suspicion of infection. At the procedure, 6 ml of purulent fluid were removed (Figure 2). Microbiological, including direct evaluation for microorganisms, cultures and PCR analysis were all negative.
After a month, a repeated MRI showed that the patient had developed a new lesion on the left kidney (Figure 3(A) and Figure 3(B)). A second CT-guided procedure was undertaken, and the both the right and left sided lesions underwent drainage. Once again purulent liquid was removed from the lesions and a thorough microbiological analysis was ruled out an infection process.
An MRI performed 4 weeks after the second procedure showed that the lesions continued to grow in size and numbers. At the same time a PET-CT showed that the disease remained in partial remission. At this point, Crizotinib was discontinued and Ceritinib was started (Figure 3(C) and Figure 3(D)). The following MRI showed progressive resolution of the renal lesions.
The patient is alive, using Ceritinib for 10 months with stable disease and resolution of the renal lesions.
The mechanism on the development of Crizotinib-associated complex renal cysts is unclear [5] and apparently it not shared with Ceritinib, given the resolution of the lesions. Physicians need to be aware of this potential uncommon side effect of this drug, given that its use will likely increase worldwide in the coming years, as the drug becomes available in multiple countries and as adjuvant trials are currently recruiting patients.
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Figure 1. Right kidney (A) and (B) and left kidney (C) and (D) before Crizotinibe and after treatment (E), (F), (G), (H).
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Figure 2. A percutaneous puncture and drainage of the cyst at the upper pole of the left kidney guided by CT.
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Figure 3. CT scan after percutaneous puncture and drainage of the renal abcess (A) and (B) and MRI after Crizotinib was discontinued (C) and (D).
3. Discussion
The incidence of renal cysts occurring during treatment with Crizotinib is about 5% [13] . Crizotinib increases the risk of renal cysts development and also increases pre-existing cystic lesions [12] [14] .
Six months after Crizotinib, our patient presented with new symptoms of urinary infection and the CT scans already showed nodular lesions with intermediate signal and significant restriction of diffusion in both kidneys . In the retrospective analysis by Schell et al. of the 17 patients who developed renal cysts reported in clinical trial as major adverse events, the median time to diagnosis of renal cysts was 6.6 months (from 1.2 to 15.2 months) after start of treatment. In his analysis, 3 patients had to have dose reduced, the others were kept on regular doses without harm. Only one patient had to suspend treatment due to disease progression [12] . Other case report of a patient in Japan also showed spontaneous regression of a complex renal cyst [15] .
In our case, the patient presented increase of the abscess content after the reintroduction of Crizotinib, so we opt for the suspension of Crizotinib with significant decrease of the lesions. Lin et al. [14] evaluated 32 patients in 3 clinical trial and also found significant reduction in the size of renal cysts after treatment suspension. The patients who had significant renal cyst changes received Crizotinib for longer duration (median, 956 days versus 248 days, p = 0.007). In our case, the patient developed symptoms after just 6 months of the treatment, with significant changes in CT scans. After suspension, patient had evolved with clinical e radiological control without further intervention.
Schnell et al. [12] described only one patient of 17 with renal abscess [12] . They did not report any pathologic agent in this case. Yoneshima et al. [16] also described a case of a patient with aseptic renal abscess after treatment with Crizotinib in Japan.
We changed the patient treatment for Ceretinib, a drug that is also a selective oral inhibitor of small tyrosine kinase molecules that target ALK and ROS1 but it seems to have no relation to the formation of renal cysts. Despite have the same target, that is no data regarding Ceretinib and renal cyst development [17] . Our patient evolved with clinical and radiological improvement after the discontinuation of the drug.
4. Conclusion
We describe a case of a patient with NSCLC with ALK rearrangement, who presented with sub-centimeter renal cysts before Crizotinib treatment and developed bilateral renal abscess after six months of initiating the drug. The mechanism of Crizotinib related renal cyst is unknown but does not seem to have relation with the inhibition of ALK or ROS1. Further studies may be necessary to determinate the risk of renal cyst development and management of the drug’s complications.
NOTES
*Corresponding author.