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Updated: Jun 23, 2025

Studying the Effects of Tumor-Secreted Paracrine Ligands on Macrophage Activation using Co-Culture with Permeable Membrane Supports
Published on: November 28, 2019
[Endocrine side effects of tumor treatment]
Johanna Braegelmann1, Dagmar Führer1, Susanne Tan2
1Klinik für Endokrinologie, Diabetologie und Stoffwechsel, Universitätsklinikum Essen, Universitätsmedizin Essen, Hufelandstraße 55, 45147, Essen, Deutschland.
Abstract:
Targeted and immune-based treatments represent significant innovations in oncology and impressively improve the prognosis of many tumor diseases. Their now widespread use as a standard treatment for several malignant diseases increasingly requires knowledge of how to deal with new adverse events (AE) induced by oncological agents in centers and routine practice [12, 13]. For example, the blockade of specific checkpoints of the inhibitory immune system by immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) causes the loss of immune tolerance to the body's own tissue with the occurrence of endocrine immune-related AE (irAE) in approximately 10% of patients treated with ICI [3, 11]. Targeted treatments, such as with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and phosphoinositide 3‑kinase (PI3K) inhibitors often lead to disorders of glucose metabolism and thyroid gland dysfunction. The challenges of maintaining bone health during endocrine therapy in patients with prostate and hormone receptor-positive breast cancer and in the endocrine follow-up care of childhood cancer survivors are well-known and are becoming increasingly more important for the long-term prognosis and quality of life [5, 20]. However, although the recommendations for a systematic management of endocrine side effects of these relatively new tumor therapies can be found in guidelines, they are not yet established in routine clinical care [15, 19]. A close interdisciplinary cooperation is required for optimal care of people with cancer [7]. The development of such interdisciplinary cross-sectoral treatment structures is important as tumor treatment is primarily carried out by hematologists or oncologists, while the management of AE induced by oncological agents increasingly involves primary care physicians including internists and in the case of endocrine AE requires the specific expertise of endocrinologists and diabetologists.
Insights
New cancer therapies like immune checkpoint inhibitors and targeted treatments cause endocrine adverse events. Managing these side effects requires better clinical integration and interdisciplinary collaboration for improved patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Endocrinology
- Immunology
Context:
- Widespread use of novel cancer therapies necessitates understanding and managing their adverse events.
- Endocrine immune-related adverse events (irAEs) occur in approximately 10% of patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI).
- Targeted therapies (TKI, mTOR, PI3K inhibitors) can cause metabolic and thyroid dysfunction.
Purpose:
- To highlight the growing challenge of endocrine adverse events (AEs) from modern cancer treatments.
- To emphasize the need for systematic management strategies for these AEs in routine clinical practice.
- To advocate for enhanced interdisciplinary collaboration between oncologists and endocrinologists.
Summary:
- Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) can lead to endocrine immune-related adverse events (irAEs) due to loss of immune tolerance.
- Targeted therapies, including tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI), mTOR, and PI3K inhibitors, are associated with glucose metabolism disorders and thyroid dysfunction.
- Endocrine side effects, such as bone health issues in breast and prostate cancer patients, require specialized management, particularly in childhood cancer survivors.
Impact:
- Improved management of endocrine AEs can enhance long-term prognosis and quality of life for cancer patients.
- Establishing systematic care guidelines for endocrine AEs is crucial for integrating new cancer therapies into routine practice.
- Close interdisciplinary cooperation between oncologists, primary care physicians, endocrinologists, and diabetologists is essential for optimal patient care.
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