April - June 2021, Volume 17, Issue 2

Coniac S, Stoian M

Updates in Endocrine Immune-Related Adverse Events in Oncology Immunotherapy

Acta Endo (Buc) 2021, 17 (2): 286-289
doi: 10.4183/aeb.2021.286

Immunotherapy in Oncology, a fundamental distinctive treatment in cancer patients, needs molecules with different mechanisms: immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) who attenuate the cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) and the programmed cell death 1 (PD-1)/ligand 1 (PD-L1) pathways, depriving cancer cells of a key strategy of evasion from immunosurveillance. Although their success in improving overall patient survival, unfortunately, superior clinical response of immunotherapy is often associated with treatment toxicity. European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) published in 2021 a comprehensive review of qualitatively resynthesized information on endocrinopathies after cancer immunotherapy with ICIs with practical recommendations for screening and management. Endocrinopathy such as thyroid dysfunctions, hypophysitis, primary adrenal insufficiency, type 1 diabetes mellitus, central diabetes insipidus, or hypoparathyroidism were reported and called immune-related adverse effects (irAEs). Practical guidelines for monitoring, diagnosis, and treatment of ICIs related endocrine toxicities are constantly updated. Given the increasing use of ICIs, cooperation between oncologists and endocrinologists is crucial in the management of oncologic patients.

Keywords: Immunotherapy, endocrine irAEs, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs).

Correspondence: Marilena Stoian MD, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of General Medicine, Internal Medicine “Dr Ion Cantacuzino”, Bucharest, Romania, E-mail: marilenastoian@yahoo.com