Signs, symptoms, grading, and management

Immune-mediated colitis

Colon icon

Signs and symptoms of colitis may include new or worsening1,2

  • Diarrhea (loose stools) or more frequent bowel movements than usual
  • Severe stomach area (abdominal) pain or tenderness
  • Stools that are black, tarry, sticky, or have blood or mucus

Management considerations for potential immune-mediated colitis1,2

GRADES BASED ON CTCAE V5.03 GRADE 1 GRADE 2 GRADE 3 GRADE 4
Dose modification with OPDIVO or OPDIVO Qvantig Continue treatment
Withhold treatment*
For patients on OPDIVO or OPDIVO Qvantig, withhold treatment for Grade 3*
For patients on OPDIVO or OPDIVO Qvantig, permanently discontinue treatment for Grade 4
Dose modification with
OPDIVO + YERVOY
Continue treatment Withhold treatment* For patients on OPDIVO + YERVOY, permanently discontinue treatment for Grade 3 or 4 symptoms
Management - Administer 1 to 2 mg/kg/day prednisone or equivalent until improvement to Grade 1 or less. Upon improvement to Grade 1 or less, initiate corticosteroid taper and continue to taper over at least 1 month.
Follow-up -

Consider administration of other systemic immunosuppressants in patients whose immune-mediated adverse reactions are not controlled with corticosteroid therapy.
Additional treatments received by some patients in clinical trials:

  • For OPDIVO  single agent (n=1994): of the patients with colitis (n=58), 7% (n=4) received infliximab in addition to high-dose corticosteroids
  • For OPDIVO 1 mg/kg + YERVOY 3 mg/kg (mMel and HCC; n=456): of the patients with colitis (n=115), 23% received infliximab in addition to high-dose corticosteroids
  • For OPDIVO 3 mg/kg + YERVOY 1 mg/kg (aRCC and mCRC; n=666): of the patients with colitis (n=60), 23% received infliximab in addition to high-dose corticosteroids
  • In the clinical study of patients receiving OPDIVO Qvantig, additional treatment was not received by patients with colitis

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection/reactivation has been reported in patients with corticosteroid-refractory immune-mediated colitis. In cases of corticosteroid-refractory colitis, consider repeating infectious workup to exclude alternative etiologies.

NCI CTCAE V5.0 GRADING OF IMMUNE-MEDIATED COLITIS3

  • GRADE 1: Asymptomatic; clinical or diagnostic observations only; intervention not indicated
  • GRADE 2: Abdominal pain; mucus or blood in stool
  • GRADE 3: Severe abdominal pain; peritoneal signs
  • GRADE 4: Life-threatening consequences; urgent intervention indicated

In trials that evaluated OPDIVO as a single agent or in combination with YERVOY, toxicity was graded per NCI CTCAE V4 or V5.In a trial that evaluated OPDIVO Qvantig, toxicity was graded per NCI CTCAE V5.2

When OPDIVO is administered in combination with YERVOY, if OPDIVO is withheld or discontinued, YERVOY should also be withheld or discontinued.1

*Resume in patients with complete or partial resolution (Grade 0 to 1) after corticosteroid taper. Permanently discontinue if no complete or partial resolution within 12 weeks of last dose or inability to reduce prednisone to 10 mg per day (or equivalent) or less within 12 weeks of initiating steroids.1,2

aRCC=advanced renal cell carcinoma; HCC=hepatocellular carcinoma; mCRC=metastatic colorectal cancer; mMel=metastatic melanoma; NCI CTCAE=National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events.

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Dosing Information

Find the appropriate dosing information for your patients in any approved regimen.

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OPDIVO Dosing Guide

A guide to dosing across all indications.
 

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Patient Monitoring Checklist

A convenient, printable tool to help nurses identify signs and symptoms of immune-mediated adverse reactions. 

References:

  1. OPDIVO [package insert]. Princeton, NJ: Bristol-Myers Squibb Company.
  2. OPDIVO Qvantig [package insert]. Princeton, NJ: Bristol-Myers Squibb Company.
  3. National Cancer Institute. Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v4.0. Published November 27, 2017. Accessed July 19, 2024.
    https://ctep.cancer.gov/protocoldevelopment/electronic_applications/docs/CTCAE_v5_Quick_Reference_8.5x11.pdf


1506-US-2400610  11/24