Immunotherapy and Breast Reconstruction: Opportunities, Challenges, and Future Directions

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Surgical Oncology
• Immunology

Background:

• Immunotherapy, particularly immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), is revolutionizing breast cancer treatment.
• ICIs introduce novel challenges and considerations for surgical and reconstructive procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current evidence on the impact of immunotherapy on surgical and reconstructive breast cancer care.
• To highlight challenges related to perioperative safety, immune-related adverse events, and reconstructive outcomes.
• To identify research gaps for future investigation.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of current evidence regarding immunotherapy in breast cancer surgery.
• Analysis of immune checkpoint inhibitors, perioperative safety, and immune-related adverse events.
• Discussion of implant interactions with the tumor immune microenvironment.

Main Results:

• Immunotherapy affects surgical timing, postoperative recovery, and reconstructive success.
• Individualized perioperative management is crucial for optimizing outcomes.
• Interactions between surgical implants and the tumor immune microenvironment require further study.

Conclusions:

• Integrating immunotherapy into breast cancer management necessitates careful perioperative planning.
• Further research is needed on long-term toxicity, real-world surgical outcomes, and predictive biomarkers.
• Reconstructive surgeons must adapt to evolving immunotherapy protocols for optimal patient care.