Cancer Immunotherapy: An Evidence-Based Overview and Implications for Practice.

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Immunology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Rapid advancements in cancer immunotherapy since the mid-1990s require updated, evidence-based educational resources.
• The evolution of immunotherapies necessitates a comprehensive understanding of their mechanisms and potential toxicities for safe clinical application.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an evidence-based overview of major immunotherapy classes, including checkpoint inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies, oncolytic viral therapies, and chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapies.
• To discuss the implications for clinical practice regarding the use of these novel cancer treatments.

Main Methods:

• Review of current literature on immunotherapy agents.
• Categorization of immunotherapies based on their immune modulation pathophysiology.
• Analysis of evidence-based toxicities associated with each class of immunotherapy agents.

Main Results:

• Immunotherapies exhibit diverse pathophysiological mechanisms, offering significant efficacy across various cancer types.
• Understanding the specific pathophysiology and associated toxicities is essential for effective patient assessment and management.
• Checkpoint inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies, oncolytic viruses, and CAR T-cell therapies represent key areas of current and future cancer treatment.

Conclusions:

• Effective management of cancer patients receiving immunotherapy requires a thorough grasp of each agent's unique pathophysiology and potential adverse effects.
• Evidence-based education is critical for healthcare providers to ensure safe and effective administration of immunotherapies.
• Tailoring treatment strategies based on immunotherapy mechanisms and patient-specific factors is paramount for optimizing outcomes.