Immune checkpoint inhibitors: An emergency medicine focused review

Abstract

Introduction: Several novel cancer therapies have been developed, many of which focused on immune system modulation. These include immune checkpoint inhibitors, modulators, T-cell therapy, monoclonal antibodies, cytokines, oncolytic viruses, and vaccines. Although many of these therapies are well tolerated, significant adverse reactions can occur as a result of these novel drugs.

Objective: This narrative review discusses complications associated with immune based cancer therapies, specifically immune checkpoint inhibitors, for emergency clinicians.

Discussion: Novel cancer therapies including immune checkpoint inhibitors can improve the care of patients with malignancy. However, these therapies have a number of potential complications, known as immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Complications can involve the neurologic, cardiac, pulmonary, dermatologic, renal, gastrointestinal, hepatic, and hematologic systems. IrAEs most commonly occur in the first several months following treatment initiation. These complications can be graded based on severity of clinical and laboratory findings. While most of these irAEs are mild, patients may present with critical illness. Treatment commonly includes immune checkpoint inhibitor discontinuation, steroids, and evaluation for other immunosuppressant medications.

Conclusions: Knowledge of this novel cancer therapy class and its potential complications can improve the care of patients on immune checkpoint inhibitors in the emergency department setting.

Keywords: Immune checkpoint inhibitors; Immune-related adverse event; Immunotherapy; Malignancy; cancer.