The role of immunosuppressive agents in the management of severe and refractory immune‐related adverse events

• Published in: Asia-Pacific journal of clinical oncology Vol. 16; no. 4; pp. 201 - 210
• Main Authors: Wang, Anqi, Xu, Yan, Fei, Yunyun, Wang, Mengzhao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Australia Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.08.2020
• Subjects: Autoimmune diseases; Cancer immunotherapy; Immune checkpoint inhibitors; Immune system; immune‐related adverse events (irAEs); Immunosuppressive agents; Immunotherapy; Management; Steroid hormones; steroid‐refractory irAEs; immunosuppressive agents; immune-related adverse events (irAEs); steroid-refractory irAEs; immunotherapy
• ISSN: 1743-7555; 1743-7563
• DOI: 10.1111/ajco.13332

The advent of immune checkpoint inhibitors has improved survival in some types of cancer and brought promising prospects to cancer immunotherapy. Despite their clinical benefits, significant off‐target toxicities resulting from the immune system activation have been observed, namely immune‐related adverse events (irAEs), which pose to clinicians a new challenge of optimal management. With steroids being the mainstay of current management of irAEs, immunosuppressive agents are especially indicated for severe or steroid‐refractory cases, based on current immunopathophysiological knowledge and on extrapolations of treatment options for primary autoimmune disorders. This review focuses on the status and recent clinical progress of immunosuppressive agents in the management of severe and steroid‐refractory irAEs.