Immune checkpoint inhibitors in cancer: the increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease events and progression of coronary artery calcium

Abstract Background Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have contributed to a significant advancement in the treatment of cancer, leading to improved clinical outcomes in many individuals with advanced disease. Both preclinical and clinical investigations have shown that ICIs are associated with ath...

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Main Authors: Bingxin Gong, Yusheng Guo, Yi Li, Jing Wang, Guofeng Zhou, Yong-hao Chen, Tong Nie, Ming Yang, Kun Luo, Chuansheng Zheng, Feng Pan, Bo Liang, Lian Yang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-01-01
Series:BMC Medicine
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-024-03261-x
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author Bingxin Gong
Yusheng Guo
Yi Li
Jing Wang
Guofeng Zhou
Yong-hao Chen
Tong Nie
Ming Yang
Kun Luo
Chuansheng Zheng
Feng Pan
Bo Liang
Lian Yang
author_facet Bingxin Gong
Yusheng Guo
Yi Li
Jing Wang
Guofeng Zhou
Yong-hao Chen
Tong Nie
Ming Yang
Kun Luo
Chuansheng Zheng
Feng Pan
Bo Liang
Lian Yang
author_sort Bingxin Gong
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have contributed to a significant advancement in the treatment of cancer, leading to improved clinical outcomes in many individuals with advanced disease. Both preclinical and clinical investigations have shown that ICIs are associated with atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular events; however, the exact mechanism underlying this relationship has not been clarified. Methods Patients diagnosed with stages III or IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) at the Wuhan Union Hospital from March 1, 2020, to April 30, 2022, were included in this retrospective study. Coronary artery calcium (CAC) volume and score were assessed in a subset of patients during non-ECG-gated chest CT scans at baseline and 3, 6, and 12 months after treatment. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed in a 1:1 ratio to balance the baseline characteristics between the two groups. Results Overall, 1458 patients (487 with ICI therapy and 971 without ICI therapy) were enrolled in this cardiovascular cohort study. After PSM, 446 patients were included in each group. During the entire period of follow-up (median follow-up 23.1 months), 24 atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) events (4.9%) occurred in the ICI group, and 14 ASCVD events (1.4%) in the non-ICI group, before PSM; 24 ASCVD events (5.4%) occurred in the ICI group and 5 ASCVD events (1.1%) in the non-ICI group after PSM. The CAC imaging study group comprised 113 patients with ICI therapy and 133 patients without ICI therapy. After PSM, each group consisted of 75 patients. In the ICI group, the CAC volume/score increased from 93.4 mm3/96.9 (baseline) to 125.1 mm3/132.8 (at 12 months). In the non-ICI group, the CAC volume/score was increased from 70.1 mm3/68.8 (baseline) to 84.4 mm3/87.9 (at 12 months). After PSM, the CAC volume/score was increased from 85.1 mm3/76.4 (baseline) to 111.8 mm3/121.1 (12 months) in the ICI group and was increased from 74.9 mm3/76.8 (baseline) to 109.3 mm3/98.7 (12 months) in the non-ICI group. Both cardiovascular events and CAC progression were increased after the initiation of ICIs. Conclusions Treatment with ICIs was associated with a higher rate of ASCVD events and a noticeable increase in CAC progression.
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spelling doaj.art-ac85dc5c8fc84bb4925521fcf70d6ef02024-03-05T19:21:45ZengBMCBMC Medicine1741-70152024-01-0122111310.1186/s12916-024-03261-xImmune checkpoint inhibitors in cancer: the increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease events and progression of coronary artery calciumBingxin Gong0Yusheng Guo1Yi Li2Jing Wang3Guofeng Zhou4Yong-hao Chen5Tong Nie6Ming Yang7Kun Luo8Chuansheng Zheng9Feng Pan10Bo Liang11Lian Yang12Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Cardiology, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeDepartment of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyAbstract Background Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have contributed to a significant advancement in the treatment of cancer, leading to improved clinical outcomes in many individuals with advanced disease. Both preclinical and clinical investigations have shown that ICIs are associated with atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular events; however, the exact mechanism underlying this relationship has not been clarified. Methods Patients diagnosed with stages III or IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) at the Wuhan Union Hospital from March 1, 2020, to April 30, 2022, were included in this retrospective study. Coronary artery calcium (CAC) volume and score were assessed in a subset of patients during non-ECG-gated chest CT scans at baseline and 3, 6, and 12 months after treatment. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed in a 1:1 ratio to balance the baseline characteristics between the two groups. Results Overall, 1458 patients (487 with ICI therapy and 971 without ICI therapy) were enrolled in this cardiovascular cohort study. After PSM, 446 patients were included in each group. During the entire period of follow-up (median follow-up 23.1 months), 24 atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) events (4.9%) occurred in the ICI group, and 14 ASCVD events (1.4%) in the non-ICI group, before PSM; 24 ASCVD events (5.4%) occurred in the ICI group and 5 ASCVD events (1.1%) in the non-ICI group after PSM. The CAC imaging study group comprised 113 patients with ICI therapy and 133 patients without ICI therapy. After PSM, each group consisted of 75 patients. In the ICI group, the CAC volume/score increased from 93.4 mm3/96.9 (baseline) to 125.1 mm3/132.8 (at 12 months). In the non-ICI group, the CAC volume/score was increased from 70.1 mm3/68.8 (baseline) to 84.4 mm3/87.9 (at 12 months). After PSM, the CAC volume/score was increased from 85.1 mm3/76.4 (baseline) to 111.8 mm3/121.1 (12 months) in the ICI group and was increased from 74.9 mm3/76.8 (baseline) to 109.3 mm3/98.7 (12 months) in the non-ICI group. Both cardiovascular events and CAC progression were increased after the initiation of ICIs. Conclusions Treatment with ICIs was associated with a higher rate of ASCVD events and a noticeable increase in CAC progression.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-024-03261-xAtherosclerosisImmunotherapyCardiovascular diseaseCoronary artery calciumImaging
spellingShingle Bingxin Gong
Yusheng Guo
Yi Li
Jing Wang
Guofeng Zhou
Yong-hao Chen
Tong Nie
Ming Yang
Kun Luo
Chuansheng Zheng
Feng Pan
Bo Liang
Lian Yang
Immune checkpoint inhibitors in cancer: the increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease events and progression of coronary artery calcium
BMC Medicine
Atherosclerosis
Immunotherapy
Cardiovascular disease
Coronary artery calcium
Imaging
title Immune checkpoint inhibitors in cancer: the increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease events and progression of coronary artery calcium
title_full Immune checkpoint inhibitors in cancer: the increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease events and progression of coronary artery calcium
title_fullStr Immune checkpoint inhibitors in cancer: the increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease events and progression of coronary artery calcium
title_full_unstemmed Immune checkpoint inhibitors in cancer: the increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease events and progression of coronary artery calcium
title_short Immune checkpoint inhibitors in cancer: the increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease events and progression of coronary artery calcium
title_sort immune checkpoint inhibitors in cancer the increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease events and progression of coronary artery calcium
topic Atherosclerosis
Immunotherapy
Cardiovascular disease
Coronary artery calcium
Imaging
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-024-03261-x
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