Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), such as anti-programmed cell-death 1/programmed death-ligand 1 (anti-PD-1/PD-L1) or anti-CTL-associated protein (anti-CTLA-4), have dramatically changed the treatment of advanced cancers over the past decade. ICIs block T cell inhibition, thus increasing the anti-tumor immune response. ICIs are used not only for metastatic cancer, but also as adjuvant treatment for some stage…
NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Patients with preexisting autoimmune disease (AIDs) are not at increased risk for immune-related adverse events from immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy, although these adverse events may be more likely in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), new research indicates. “Therefore, we encourage physicians not to withhold ICI in most common AIDs. However,…
ATLANTA—One of the hottest topics in medicine is the emerging field of cancer immunotherapy. However, immune-related adverse events (irAEs) are associated with the therapy, and when things go wrong, they can go very, very wrong, said Ryan Sullivan, MD, during the 2019 ACR/ARP Annual Meeting in November. “The guiding principle of cancer immunotherapy is [that]…
NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—After an immune-related adverse event, the risk-reward ratio for an anti-PD-1 (anti-programmed death-1) or anti-PD-L1 (anti-programmed death ligand-1) rechallenge seems to be acceptable if patients are closely monitored, researchers say. “The immune checkpoint inhibitors anti-PD-1 and anti-PD-L1 have proven efficacy in the treatment of many cancers, but patients may experience immune-related adverse…
A new case series outlines the treatment and duration of symptoms of 10 patients experiencing the musculoskeletal manifestations of immune-related adverse events. Researchers found these symptoms may last for more than a year, but can generally be treated with low to moderate doses of corticosteroids…
CHICAGO—The body of literature on immunosuppressive drugs used to treat cancer and autoimmune diseases is growing, helping bring some clarity to their effects on the immune system and how well they work in patients. This has helped refine the questions that further research must answer, said an expert at the 2018 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting. The…
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are at the forefront of advances in cancer therapy and have shown promising results for progression-free survival. Checkpoint signaling pathways, such as cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4) and programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1), normally regulate the immune response to promote self-tolerance and prevent tissue damage and inflammation. PD-1 is a…
Some cancer patients taking immune checkpoint inhibitors experience immune-related adverse events. Laura C. Cappelli, MD, MHS, says rheumatologists are natural partners with oncologists to treat this patient population…