[Autoimmune diseases and immunotherapies]

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Immunology

Context:

• Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are standard lung cancer therapy.
• ICIs can cause immune-related adverse events (irAEs).
• Limited data exist on ICI use in patients with pre-existing autoimmune disease (AD).

Purpose:

• To review and synthesize current literature on ICI efficacy and safety in lung cancer patients with autoimmune disease.
• To explore the impact of steroids and other therapies on irAEs in this population.

Summary:

• This article reviews studies examining immune checkpoint inhibitors in lung cancer patients who also have autoimmune disease.
• It synthesizes information on treatment effectiveness, safety profiles, and management of immune-related adverse events.
• The review also considers the role of concomitant therapies, such as steroids.

Impact:

• Provides crucial insights for oncologists and immunologists managing complex patient cases.
• Informs clinical decision-making regarding the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with autoimmune disease.
• Highlights areas for future research in optimizing cancer immunotherapy for vulnerable patient populations.