Immune-related Adverse Events from Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy

Publication Date: November 1, 2021

Key Points

Key Points

  • Immunotherapy has revolutionized the treatment of many different types of cancers.
  • Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICPi) targeting cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4), programmed cell death-1 (PD-1), and PD ligand 1 (PD-L1) work by preventing the receptors and ligands from binding to each other, thereby disrupting signaling so that T-cells can recognize and attack cancer cells. They are currently the standard of care in the treatment of several cancers, including a variety of solid-organ and hematological malignancies.
  • The use of ICPis is rising exponentially, with approximately 40% of patients with cancer in the United States in 2019 eligible for treatment with ICPis.
  • Immune checkpoint blockade therapy is associated with a spectrum of side effects that is quite different from other systemic therapies such as cytotoxic chemotherapy.
    • Moderate to severe immune-related adverse events (irAEs) may be associated with life-threatening declines in organ function and quality of life, and fatal outcomes have been reported.

Key Recommendations

...y Recommendati...

The following are general recommendation...


...s recommended that clinicians manage toxici...


...commendations in this guideline ar...


Treatment

...eatment

...: Immunosuppressive AgentsHaving trouble vie...


...ly Conducted Testing at Baseline Prior to ICPi The...


...4. Commonly Conducted Testing During irAE Man...


...le 1. Cutaneous ToxicitiesHaving trouble v...


...strointestinal (GI) ToxicitiesHaving trouble...


...xicitiesHaving trouble viewing table? Ex...


.... Endocrine ToxicitiesHaving trouble viewi...


...ble 5. Musculoskeletal ToxicitiesHavin...


...nal ToxicitiesHaving trouble viewing table? Expan...


...vous System ToxicitiesHaving trouble v...


...ologic ToxicitiesHaving trouble viewin...


...vascular ToxicitiesHaving trouble...


...le 10. Ocular ToxicitiesHaving trouble vie...