How We Treat Endocrine Complications of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors

Overview

Journal ESMO Open

Publisher Elsevier

Specialty Oncology

Date 2021 Jan 5

PMID 33399077

Citations 22

Authors

S A Paschou

K Stefanaki

T Psaltopoulou

M Liontos

K Koutsoukos

F Zagouri

I Lambrinoudaki

M-A Dimopoulos

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are antibodies that target certain immune checkpoints (ICs), such as cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4), programmed death 1 (PD-1) or its ligand (PD-L1), and have emerged as a powerful new tool for oncologists. As these immune checkpoints are crucial for immunological self-tolerance, such therapies can trigger autoimmune adverse effects. Endocrine complications are among the most common, including hypophysitis, thyroid dysfunction, diabetes mellitus and primary adrenal insufficiency, while autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type 2 (APS-2) may also present. The aim of this article is to critically appraise the literature and present (i) the biological role and function of the main ICs, (ii) the use of ICIs in the treatment of various cancer types, (iii) the endocrine complications of cancer immunotherapy with ICIs and (iv) practical recommendations for screening and management of patients with such endocrinopathies in everyday clinical practice.

Citing Articles

Current Landscape and Future Directions in Cancer Immunotherapy: Therapies, Trials, and Challenges.

Bandara S, Raveendran S Cancers (Basel). 2025; 17(5).

PMID: 40075668 PMC: 11899461. DOI: 10.3390/cancers17050821.

Association between platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio and immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced thyroid dysfunction.

Wang A, Huang H, Chen Y, Zhao Z, Cong L, Li M Endocrine. 2025; .

PMID: 39838195 DOI: 10.1007/s12020-025-04164-4.

Pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced diabetes mellitus.

Kani E, Karaviti E, Karaviti D, Gerontiti E, Paschou I, Saltiki K Endocrine. 2024; 87(3):875-890.

PMID: 39316333 DOI: 10.1007/s12020-024-04050-5.

Patterns of hormonal changes in hypophysitis by immune checkpoint inhibitor.

Sang H, Cho Y, Go S, Kim H, Koh E Korean J Intern Med. 2024; 39(5):801-812.

PMID: 39252489 PMC: 11384252. DOI: 10.3904/kjim.2023.523.

Common endocrine system adverse events associated with immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Li Y, Zhao J, Wang Y, Xu Y, Li R, Zhao Y Cancer Pathog Ther. 2024; 2(3):164-172.

PMID: 39027145 PMC: 11252504. DOI: 10.1016/j.cpt.2023.11.005.

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