ASCO 2018 | Prior steroid treatment presents a serious problem for therapy

Steroids were previously administered as a form of treatment for many different conditions, including cancer. However, the previous usage of steroids is now posing serious risks for patients who receive immunotherapy. In this interview, Marina Garassino, MD, of the Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy, mentions the outcomes of patients who were given immunotherapy drugs after being treated with steroids, and explains why many trials are now excluding steroid-treated patients. Dr Garassino emphasizes that the use of steroids should now be avoided, and highlights the need for alternative treatments to be developed for patients who have no other choice but to use steroids as a form of treatment. This interview was recorded at the American Society of Oncology (ASCO) 2018 Annual Meeting in Chicago, IL.