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Incidence and Management of Immune-Related Adverse Events in Patients Undergoing Treatment with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors

  • Palliative Medicine (A Jatoi, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

The unleashing of the immune system in an effort to fight cancer has proven to be an incredible advance in the war on cancer. However that breakthrough has come with a price in the form of serious and potentially fatal immune-related adverse events (irAEs).

Recent Findings

Rapid recognition and early intervention is imperative to avoid significant morbidity and mortality. Additionally, providers need to be aware that there are still new, rare, and long-term emerging irAEs that were not previously reported in clinical trials.

Summary

Because of the significant difference between irAEs and those caused by chemotherapy and/or targeted therapy, providers must have a thorough understanding of which events would be considered immune related and require treatment. This review will cover descriptions of the most common and uncommon but serious irAEs experienced by patients on immunotherapy, as well as management of these irAEs.

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Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oncology—Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA

    Lisa A. Kottschade

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Correspondence to Lisa A. Kottschade.

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Lisa A. Kottschade has received research support through a grant from Bristol-Myers Squibb (paid to Mayo Clinic) and has served as a consultant for Genentech (compensation paid to Mayo Clinic).

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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Kottschade, L.A. Incidence and Management of Immune-Related Adverse Events in Patients Undergoing Treatment with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors. Curr Oncol Rep 20, 24 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11912-018-0671-4

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