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Orofacial complications from immune checkpoint inhibitors: A retrospective analysis from two academic medical centers
Kamal Al-Eryani1, Joel B Epstein2,3, Anette Vistoso Monreal4
1Department of Orofacial Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA.
Background:
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are FDA-approved for various cancers, yet their orofacial immune-related adverse events (irAEs) remain poorly understood. Our two-center retrospective study aims to better understand the prevalence and nature of these orofacial irAEs.
Methods:
We retrospectively collected demographics, ICI details, and onset of orofacial irAEs in ICI-treated patients at University of California San Francisco and City of Hope (2013-2021). Orofacial irAEs were identified by ICD-10 codes and data categorized as dry mouth/xerostomia, oral mucosal lesions, and orofacial neuropathies. Patients with pre-existing orofacial conditions resembling the reported irAEs were excluded.
Results:
Among 3768 ICI-treated patients, 408 (10.8%) developed 467 orofacial irAEs: oral mucosal diseases (41.4%), dry mouth/xerostomia (41.0%), and orofacial neuropathies (17.6%). Notably, head and neck cancers had the highest incidence of orofacial irAEs.
Conclusions:
Orofacial irAEs are relatively common in patients receiving ICIs, necessitating careful monitoring and management of these complications during and after the treatment.
