Michael Brown, MBBS, FRACP, FRCPA of Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia discusses side effects associated with immune checkpoint inhibitors. For anti-CLTA-4 therapies the side effects are more severe and include colitis, which can be resolved with immunosuppression. The anti-PD-1 antibodies are milder in their toxicity range, but serious side effects can occur, including pneumonitis. A combination of checkpoint inhibitors may have greater efficacy, but this comes at a price of a higher toxicity. Prof Brown points out that there is no data indicating that management of side effects with immunosuppression impairs treatment efficacy. Supportive care plays an important role in management of symptoms and prevention of morbidity, while awaiting efficacy. Recorded at the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) and International Society of Ocular Oncology (ISOO) 2016 Annual Meeting on Supportive Care in Cancer held in Adelaide, Australia.
