Impact of cytotoxic and targeted antineoplastic drugs on the validity of the mitogen-induced interferon-gamma release assay for latent tuberculosis infection: Results of a prospective trial at a comprehensive cancer center

Abstract

The T-SPOT.TB test (TS.TB), an interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) release assay (IGRA), is superior in diagnosing latent tuberculosis infection compared with the conventional tuberculin skin test (TST). However, whether cytotoxic chemotherapy and treatment with new-generation antineoplastic monoclonal antibodies affects the TS.TB is not certain. We evaluated the feasibility of using the TS.TB in this population. Sixteen cancer patients at high risk for tuberculosis exposure were prospectively evaluated with the TST and TS.TB. Blood samples were obtained 7.5 ± 89.3 days after the most recent cycle of antineoplastic therapy. Six patients (38%) were febrile within 24 h of blood sampling; high-dose corticosteroid therapy and profound treatment-induced neutropenia were present in 1 patient each. In all patients, TS.TB showed no evidence of latent tuberculosis infection. A robust mitogen-induced IFN-γ response was seen in samples from 14 patients (88%) despite therapy with high-dose corticosteroids, cyclophosphamide, fludarabine, gemtuzumab ozogamicin, and alemtuzumab. The presence of fever or profound neutropenia did not negatively impact mitogen response by peripheral lymphocytes. The 2 patients whose peripheral blood lymphocytes (> 500 cells/ml) failed to generate a cytokine response to ex vivo mitogen stimulation had refractory advanced cancer. Unlike the TST, a negative TS.TB provided interpretable results even in cancer patients undergoing new-generation immunosuppressive therapy.

Keywords::

• Mycobacterium tuberculosis
• immune suppression
• interferon-gamma release assay
• tuberculosis spot test
• chemotherapy

Declaration of interest: There was no conflict of interest for this study. This study was supported in part by a grant from Oxford Immunotech, Oxford, UK.