%0 Case Reports
%T Severe febrile neutropenia and pancytopenia in a patient with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma treated with atezolizumab and bevacizumab: a case report.
%A Chamseddine S
%A LaPelusa M
%A Carter K
%A Nguyen V
%A Mohamed YI
%A Sakr Y
%A Rojas-Hernandez CM
%A Hatia RI
%A Hassan M
%A Goss JA
%A Elsayes KM
%A Rashid A
%A Sun R
%A Tran Cao HS
%A Amin HM
%A Kaseb AO
%J J Gastrointest Oncol
%V 15
%N 3
%D 2024 Jun 30
%M 38989410
%F 2.587
%R 10.21037/jgo-24-290
%X <B>UNASSIGNED: </B>Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), agents that stimulate T-cell function, have become the standard first-line treatment for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, they may also cause immune-related adverse events (irAEs), which are rare and have not been extensively reported. Here, we describe a case of severe febrile neutropenia and pancytopenia after atezolizumab plus bevacizumab (atezo/bev) therapy and its treatment course.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>The combination of atezo/bev was initiated as the first-line treatment for a man in his early 50s, who was diagnosed with unresectable HCC. The first treatment cycle was administered in the outpatient setting, and the patient developed a fever of 39.0 ℃ 10 days after therapy initiation. He presented 5 days later with persistent fever as well as a headache, vomiting, chills, generalized pain, fatigue, mild abdominal discomfort, and a burning rash present on his neck and face. Complete blood counts showed severe neutropenia [absolute neutrophil count (ANC) of 90 cells/µL], leukopenia [white blood cell (WBC) count 500 cells/µL], thrombocytopenia [platelet count (PC) 18,000 cells/µL], and mild anemia (hemoglobin level 12.6 gm/dL). Imaging findings showed colitis on computed tomography (CT). Atezo/bev therapy was discontinued. Treatment plan constituted of cefepime and filgrastim, a recombinant form of the naturally occurring granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) for febrile neutropenia, metronidazole for colitis, and intravenous methylprednisolone for immune-related toxicities. The patient fully recovered after 4 days of admission.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>In conclusion, we observed temporary severe febrile neutropenia and pancytopenia during systemic immunotherapy in a patient with unresectable HCC. Healthcare providers should consider hematological irAEs (hem-irAEs) in patients after the administration of ICIs.