Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 28, 2025

Analysis of Human T Cell Activity in an Allogeneic Co-Culture Setting of Pre-Treated Tumor Cells
Published on: March 7, 2025
Gender Difference in sidE eFfects of ImmuNotherapy: a possible clue to optimize cancEr tReatment (G-DEFINER): study
Rosalba Miceli1, Hanna Eriksson2, Giuseppe Lo Russo3
1Unit of Biostatistics for Clinical Research, Department of Epidemiology and Data Science, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy. rosalba.miceli@istitutotumori.mi.it.
Background:
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have significantly improved outcomes in various cancers. ICI treatment is associated with the incidence of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) which can affect any organ. Data on irAEs occurrence in relation to sex- differentiation and their association with gender-specific factors are limited.
Aims:
The primary objective of the G-DEFINER study is to compare the irAEs incidence in female and male patients who undergo ICI treatment. Secondary objectives are: to compare the irAEs incidence in pre- and postmenopausal female patients; to compare the irAEs incidence in female and male patients according to different clinical and gender-related factors (lifestyle, psychosocial, and behavioral factors). Exploratory objectives of the study are to compare and contrast hormonal, gene-expression, SNPs, cytokines, and gut microbiota profiles in relation to irAEs incidence in female and male patients.
Methods And Results:
The patients are recruited from Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Italy, St Vincent's University Hospital, Ireland, Oslo University Hospital, Norway, and Karolinska Insitutet/Karolinska University Hospital, Sweden. The inclusion of patients was delayed due to the Covid pandemic, leading to a total of 250 patients recruited versus a planned number of 400 patients. Clinical and translational data will be analyzed.
Interpretation:
The expected outcomes are to improve the management of cancer patients treated with ICIs, leading to more personalized clinical approaches that consider potential toxicity profiles. The real world nature of the trial makes it highly applicable for timely irAEs diagnosis.
More Related Videos
15:04Potentiation of Anticancer Antibody Efficacy by Antineoplastic Drugs: Detection of Antibody-drug Synergism Using the Combination Index Equation
Published on: January 19, 2019
15:24Testing Cancer Immunotherapeutics in a Humanized Mouse Model Bearing Human Tumors
Published on: December 16, 2022
Related Concept Videos
Tumor Immunotherapy
Cancer Vaccines
Cancer vaccines come in two categories: preventive (prophylactic) and treatment (active). Preventive vaccines, such as the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, protect against viruses that cause certain...
Cancer Therapies
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...
Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
Targeted Cancer Therapies
There are several types of targeted therapies against...
Cancer Survival Analysis