Toxicities of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: Itis-Ending Adverse Reactions and More

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have revolutionized the treatment of cancer worldwide. Not long ago, before the introduction of ICIs, many cancers incurred a grave prognosis on patients due to the lack of effective therapies. For instance, patients with malignant melanoma survive longer and experience a better quality of life than ever before due to agents such as nivolumab and ipilimumab. Nevertheless, toxicities associated with the use of ICIs have been increasingly recognized in clinical trials as well as oncology practice. The widespread usage of ICIs and the expected addition of newer ICIs to the arsenal of medications to fight cancer raise awareness of the potential toxicities of these medications. Once these toxicities develop, immunosuppression with or without withholding immunotherapy is the standard of care. Because the long-term adverse effects of these toxicities and the impact of stopping therapy on survival are not well characterized, a joint decision by both the oncologist and the patient should be carried out if stopping therapy is being considered. Nevertheless, long-term data is necessary to guide such decisions. In this article, we will discuss common ICI’s immune-related adverse events with a simplified approach to recognizing and managing these events.