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Management of immunotherapy related adverse effects

Management of immunotherapy related adverse effects
Management of immunotherapy related adverse effects
Background: Over the last 5years ever since Ipilimumab received FDA approval for the treatment of metastatic melanoma, immunotherapy as a treatment modality is making its presence felt in oncology clinics across the globe. While initially approved for the treatment of metastatic melanoma alone, the immunotherapy repertoire is ever expanding with its’ utility being assessed for in the metastatic and adjuvant setting. The adverse effect profile from immunotherapy drugs differs from that of conventional chemotherapy that oncological services have trained in managing over the last few decades. This raises the need for educating health care professionals as the scenarios that patients present with at acute admissions or in clinic secondary to immune related adverse effects (iRAEs) can often be misleading.
Aims: This review aims to synopsise the common and less common iRAEs and highlight their varied presentations, in addition to stressing the need to institute timely immunosuppression, which forms the cornerstone in the management of iRAEs.
Recommendations: iRAEs have been recognised more frequently and in greater severity in dose dense and combination treatment regimens. While dermatological, gastrointestinal, hepatic toxicities in addition to endocrinopathies are the most commonly encountered iRAEs though other organ systems can be involved. The appropriate grading of an iRAEs’ severity, delaying or discontinuing immunotherapy based treatment, supportive care, commencement of immunosuppression (with corticosteroids and/or steroid sparing agents) and a multidisciplinary approach are key constituents in the treatment pathway of iRAEs.
Conclusion: Early recognition of iRAEs and timely commencement of appropriate immunosuppression is imperative in order to reduce the risk of significant morbidity and potential mortality. The management of iRAEs warrants a multidisciplinary approach which would be aided by the development of local guidelines and educational activities directed at providing health care professionals with the information and tools required to recognise and appropriately treat iRAEs
2373-633X
381-386
DeSouza, Karen
22545da0-af26-4c72-87c5-b1e989676117
Savva, Constantinos
d6e87674-1443-41f4-84ba-81c1ccfeb3d7
DeSouza, Karen
22545da0-af26-4c72-87c5-b1e989676117
Savva, Constantinos
d6e87674-1443-41f4-84ba-81c1ccfeb3d7

DeSouza, Karen and Savva, Constantinos (2016) Management of immunotherapy related adverse effects. Journal of Cancer Prevention & Current Research, 6 (1), 381-386. (doi:10.15406/jcpcr.2016.06.00187).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Background: Over the last 5years ever since Ipilimumab received FDA approval for the treatment of metastatic melanoma, immunotherapy as a treatment modality is making its presence felt in oncology clinics across the globe. While initially approved for the treatment of metastatic melanoma alone, the immunotherapy repertoire is ever expanding with its’ utility being assessed for in the metastatic and adjuvant setting. The adverse effect profile from immunotherapy drugs differs from that of conventional chemotherapy that oncological services have trained in managing over the last few decades. This raises the need for educating health care professionals as the scenarios that patients present with at acute admissions or in clinic secondary to immune related adverse effects (iRAEs) can often be misleading.
Aims: This review aims to synopsise the common and less common iRAEs and highlight their varied presentations, in addition to stressing the need to institute timely immunosuppression, which forms the cornerstone in the management of iRAEs.
Recommendations: iRAEs have been recognised more frequently and in greater severity in dose dense and combination treatment regimens. While dermatological, gastrointestinal, hepatic toxicities in addition to endocrinopathies are the most commonly encountered iRAEs though other organ systems can be involved. The appropriate grading of an iRAEs’ severity, delaying or discontinuing immunotherapy based treatment, supportive care, commencement of immunosuppression (with corticosteroids and/or steroid sparing agents) and a multidisciplinary approach are key constituents in the treatment pathway of iRAEs.
Conclusion: Early recognition of iRAEs and timely commencement of appropriate immunosuppression is imperative in order to reduce the risk of significant morbidity and potential mortality. The management of iRAEs warrants a multidisciplinary approach which would be aided by the development of local guidelines and educational activities directed at providing health care professionals with the information and tools required to recognise and appropriately treat iRAEs

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More information

Published date: 25 October 2016

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 488130
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/488130
ISSN: 2373-633X
PURE UUID: 288b9fc0-5717-4206-a822-4523ce6a0b4a
ORCID for Constantinos Savva: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-0805-4719

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Date deposited: 16 Mar 2024 23:14
Last modified: 04 Jun 2024 01:55

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Author: Karen DeSouza

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