Immune-Related Adverse Events Induced by Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors and CAR-T Cell Therapy: A Comprehensive...

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Radiology
• Immunology

Background:

• Immunotherapy, including immune checkpoint inhibitors and chimeric antigen receptor T-cells, has transformed cancer treatment.
• These therapies enhance immune response but can cause immune-related adverse events (irAEs) affecting any organ system.
• irAEs range from mild (dermatitis) to severe (myocarditis) and can occur anytime during treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an imaging-based review of diverse system-specific toxicities associated with modern immunotherapies.
• To highlight a multidisciplinary approach for diagnosing and managing irAEs.
• To offer radiological insights for differentiating irAEs from mimics like tumor progression or infection.

Main Methods:

• Review of clinical characteristics, imaging features, and pathological patterns of irAEs.
• Emphasis on diagnostic challenges and differential diagnoses.
• Integration of management strategies based on toxicity severity.

Main Results:

• irAEs exhibit diverse clinical and imaging manifestations across organ systems.
• Distinguishing irAEs from tumor progression, infection, or inflammation requires careful evaluation.
• Multidisciplinary collaboration and imaging are key for accurate diagnosis.

Conclusions:

• Prompt identification and management of irAEs are essential for patient safety and treatment continuity.
• Imaging plays a pivotal role in diagnosing irAEs and guiding differential diagnoses.
• A comprehensive understanding of irAEs aids oncologists and radiologists in optimizing patient care.