Dr. George on Concerns With Immune-Related Adverse Events in RCC

Daniel J. George, MD, professor of Medicine and Surgery, member, Duke Cancer Institute, discusses concerns with immune-related adverse events (irAEs) in renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

Anytime immunotherapy is used, there is a risk for side effects that are potentially long lasting, as immunotherapy tends to stay in the body a long time, explains George. When toxicities do present as a result of treatment, they can be slow to resolve. Potential toxicities include rashes, pneumonitis, and colitis. Although rare, they may require a prolonged use of steroids, he explains.

More often than not, treatment is halted until irAEs resolve to grade 1 or less; as such, these events may cause a significant delay in subsequent treatment, says George. However, that does not necessarily equate to a greater likelihood of disease progression. The potential for irAEs has not been a deterrent for the majority of patients, says George, although it does require proactive management to prevent high-grade complications from happening.