IgE blockade with omalizumab reduces pruritus related to immune checkpoint inhibitors and anti-HER2 therapies Journal Article


Authors: Barrios, D. M.; Phillips, G. S.; Geisler, A. N.; Trelles, S. R.; Markova, A.; Noor, S. J.; Quigley, E. A.; Haliasos, H. C.; Moy, A. P.; Schram, A. M.; Bromberg, J.; Funt, S. A.; Voss, M. H.; Drilon, A.; Hellmann, M. D.; Comen, E. A.; Narala, S.; Patel, A. B.; Wetzel, M.; Jung, J. Y.; Leung, D. Y. M.; Lacouture, M. E.
Article Title: IgE blockade with omalizumab reduces pruritus related to immune checkpoint inhibitors and anti-HER2 therapies
Abstract: Background: Immunoglobulin E (IgE) blockade with omalizumab has demonstrated clinical benefit in pruritus-associated dermatoses (e.g. atopic dermatitis, bullous pemphigoid, urticaria). In oncology, pruritus-associated cutaneous adverse events (paCAEs) are frequent with immune checkpoint inhibitors (CPIs) and targeted anti-human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) therapies. Thus, we sought to evaluate the efficacy and safety of IgE blockade with omalizumab in cancer patients with refractory paCAEs related to CPIs and anti-HER2 agents. Patients and methods: Patients included in this multicenter retrospective analysis received monthly subcutaneous injections of omalizumab for CPI or anti-HER2 therapy-related grade 2/3 pruritus that was refractory to topical corticosteroids plus at least one additional systemic intervention. To assess clinical response to omalizumab, we used the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 5.0. The primary endpoint was defined as reduction in the severity of paCAEs to grade 1/0. Results: A total of 34 patients (50% female, median age 67.5 years) received omalizumab for cancer therapy-related paCAEs (71% CPIs; 29% anti-HER2). All had solid tumors (29% breast, 29% genitourinary, 15% lung, 26% other), and most (n = 18, 64%) presented with an urticarial phenotype. In total 28 of 34 (82%) patients responded to omalizumab. The proportion of patients receiving oral corticosteroids as supportive treatment for management of paCAEs decreased with IgE blockade, from 50% to 9% (P < 0.001). Ten of 32 (31%) patients had interruption of oncologic therapy due to skin toxicity; four of six (67%) were successfully rechallenged following omalizumab. There were no reports of anaphylaxis or hypersensitivity reactions related to omalizumab. Conclusions: IgE blockade with omalizumab demonstrated clinical efficacy and was well tolerated in cancer patients with pruritus related to CPIs and anti-HER2 therapies. © 2021 European Society for Medical Oncology
Keywords: pruritus; urticaria; ige; eczema; bullous pemphigoid; cutaneous adverse event
Journal Title: Annals of Oncology
Volume: 32
Issue: 6
ISSN: 0923-7534
Publisher: Oxford University Press  
Date Published: 2021-06-01
Start Page: 736
End Page: 745
Language: English
DOI: 10.1016/j.annonc.2021.02.016
PUBMED: 33667669
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC9282165
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 1 June 2021 -- Source: Scopus
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MSK Authors
  1. Elizabeth Ann Quigley
    21 Quigley
  2. Mario E Lacouture
    457 Lacouture
  3. Jacqueline Bromberg
    143 Bromberg
  4. Martin Henner Voss
    293 Voss
  5. Elizabeth Comen
    72 Comen
  6. Alexander Edward Drilon
    635 Drilon
  7. Matthew David Hellmann
    412 Hellmann
  8. Alison Michele Schram
    125 Schram
  9. Sarah J Noor
    41 Noor
  10. Samuel Aaron Funt
    139 Funt
  11. Dulce M Barrios
    13 Barrios
  12. Alina Markova
    87 Markova
  13. Andrea Primiani Moy
    32 Moy