Infections in Patients with Solid Tumors Undergoing Adoptive Cellular Therapy

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Immunotherapy
• Infectious Disease Epidemiology

Background:

• Adoptive cellular therapy (ACT) is a growing cancer treatment modality.
• Infectious complications are well-documented in hematologic malignancies but less so in solid tumors.
• Limited data exists on infection epidemiology in solid tumor patients receiving ACT.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the epidemiology of infections within 180 days of ACT in adult solid tumor patients.
• To identify risk factors associated with infection development post-ACT.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective data collection from 132 adult solid tumor patients treated with ACT.
• Infections were tracked from ACT infusion day through day 180 postinfusion.
• Univariable and multivariable analyses were used to identify risk factors.

Main Results:

• 21.2% of patients experienced infections within 30 days, and 13% between days 31-180.
• Bacterial infections were most common; viral and fungal infections were infrequent.
• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) ≥2 and tocilizumab receipt were independent risk factors for infection.

Conclusions:

• Infection rates in solid tumor patients post-ACT are lower than in hematologic malignancies.
• Low incidence of viral/fungal infections suggests antibacterial/antifungal prophylaxis may not be beneficial.
• ECOG PS and tocilizumab use are significant predictors of infection, indicating patient vulnerability.