Development of management strategies for immune-related adverse effects of immunotherapies used in oncological treatment.

ABSTRACT

Development of immunotherapy agents has changed the cancer treatment paradigm with better outcomes and lesser side effects. Yet, there are adverse events associated with them. Owing to the increased stimulation of the immune system, the normal homeostatic mechanisms protecting the body from its own immune response can become disrupted, leading to a variety of side effects termed immune-related adverse effects (irAEs). irAEs can have significant associated morbidity and in many cases lead to discontinuation of therapies with unpredictable impact on the course of patients' disease. Few key articles laying out guidelines for the management of irAEs provide general treatment algorithms for the majority of the common irAEs. Nurses should have knowledge of the mechanism and adverse events associated with such therapies. Oncology nurses have a crucial role in identification of irAEs. irAEs may involve multiple systems, and thus, it is necessary to identify and manage these adverse events according to the case these at soon as possible.