How does the safety profile of the new and emerging anti-PD 1 antibodies differ from chemotherapy?

Clinical Pearls Podcasts published on July 11, 2017
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Alison J. Moskowitz, MD
Clinical Director, Lymphoma Inpatient Unit
Assistant Attending, Lymphoma Service
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
New York, New York
How does the safety profile of the new and emerging anti-PD 1 antibodies differ from chemotherapy?

Hi, I am Dr. Alison Moskowitz, and over the next few minutes, I am going to discuss the safety profile of the new and emerging anti-PD1 antibodies and how these differs from traditional chemotherapy. The anti-PD1 antibodies are particularly different from standard chemotherapy in that they function by activating the immune system, and so their side effects are related to immune-related reactions. Examples of these types of immune-related reactions include impact on the thyroid, such as hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, we can also see rash. Other less common immune-related reactions that can be seen include renal insufficiency, hypophysitis, adrenal insufficiency, pneumonitis, colitis, hepatitis, as well as nephritis. The management of the immune-related reactions are typically with immune suppression such as with steroids, and certainly the occurrence of these immune-related reactions are not typically expected with standard chemotherapy. With regard to monitoring for these reactions, patients should routinely get blood counts as well as liver function tests and thyroid function tests to monitor for the more common potential side effects. Thank you for your attention.

Last modified: July 11, 2017
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