Sarcoidosis-like reactions in metastatic renal cell carcinoma patients treated with immune-based combinations.

Aim: The incidence of drug-induced sarcoidosis-like reactions (DISR) in patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) is rising. We determine the incidence and characteristics of DISR in a metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) population.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed clinico-radiological data of 83 mRCC patients treated at a single institution with immune-based combinations.

Results

15 patients received immune-doublet (ipilimumab-nivolumab), while 68 patients received other immune-based combinations. Two cases of DISR (2.4%) were evidenced, with enlargement of mediastinal lymph nodes that mimicked disease progression, thus requiring a biopsy which showed histological features of DISR.

Conclusion

In our series of the incidence of DISR, radiological and clinical features, are in line with literature. DISR diagnosis is often only radiological, and its occurrence is possibly associated with a better outcome.