1. Tocilizumab in patients with multisystem Erdheim-Chester disease.
- Author
-
Berti A, Cavalli G, Guglielmi B, Biavasco R, Campochiaro C, Tomelleri A, Nicoletti R, Panzacchi A, Ferrarini M, and Dagna L
- Abstract
Treatment of Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD), a rare non-Langerhans histiocytosis, relies on interferon-α, chemotherapeutic agents such as purine analogs, cytokine-blocking agents and BRAF inhibitors. Since interleukin (IL)-6 levels are elevated in serum and lesions of ECD patients, we evaluated the therapeutic efficacy and safety of IL-6 blockade with tocilizumab. We conducted an open-label, single-arm, phase II, prospective study of tocilizumab in three patients with multisystem ECD and poor tolerance/contraindications to IFN-α. Modifications of symptoms attributed to ECD represented the criteria for evaluation of clinical response. Changes at positron emission tomography scan, computed tomography scan, and magnetic resonance imaging at month 6 represented the main criteria for the evaluation of radiological response. Sustained complete clinical response and partial radiological improvement were observed in two patients, paralleled by modulation of systemic pro-inflammatory mediators. In spite of disease stabilization or improvement at extra-neurological sites, a third patient experienced a radiologic and clinical progression of central nervous system involvement, mirrored by a dramatic increase of circulating IL-6 and related cytokines. These findings indicate that IL-6 inhibition can be effective in ECD, but caution is advisable in patients with neurologic involvement. IL-6 emerges as a central mediator in ECD pathogenesis.
- Published
- 2017
- Full Text
- View/download PDF