Heavily immunosuppressed patients undergoing anticancer immunotherapy face increased risk of severe infections

AI Summary

A retrospective study by Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute found that patients undergoing immune checkpoint inhibition anticancer therapy alongside multiple immunosuppressive treatments face increased risks of severe, sometimes fatal infections. Nearly half of the infections in the study were classified as life-threatening or fatal.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) can promote antitumor responses but can also cause adverse effects that require treatment with immunosuppressive drugs. A new retrospective study by Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute investigators found that patients who received ICIs and multiple immunosuppressive therapies were at higher risk of serious infections. Nearly half of the infections were severe, life-threatening or fatal. The results are published in Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network.