Publication
Title
Making sense of immunotherapy in lung cancer : what the pulmonologist needs to know?
Author
Abstract
Purpose of Review The landscape of lung cancer therapy has completely shifted in the last decade. From the surge of targeted therapy to the resurrection of immunotherapy, the need for adequate lung tissue specimen is critical to evaluate tumor specimens for predictive biomarkers for both types of therapies, hence, the importance of obtaining several samples via endoscopic bronchial ultrasound performed by pulmonologists or thoracic surgeons. Moreover, these novel therapies have also been associated with respiratory side effects which will require prompt evaluation and aggressive management by pulmonologists, oncologists, and intensive care unit personnel. Recent Findings Pneumonitis is commonly coined to refer to interstitial lung disease. It is a side effect from checkpoint inhibitors, a type of immunotherapy, which has proved overall survival advantage in lung cancer patients in different clinical settings: first- and second-line therapy for metastatic non-small cell lung cancers as well as for locally advanced disease after being treated with concurrent chemoradiation. Thus, the number of patients who will be exposed to these agents is considerable, and we should expect to see an increased management of this autoimmune phenomenon as well as others. Summary The mechanism of checkpoint inhibitor-induced pneumonitis is not well understood yet, but its management is like that of other autoimmune complications that affect the lung parenchyma. Prompt recognition is critical to avoid a fatal outcome.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Current pulmonology reports. - New York, N.Y., 2015, currens
Publication
New York, N.Y. : Springer , 2018
ISSN
2199-2428
DOI
10.1007/S13665-018-0200-9
Volume/pages
7 :2 (2018) , p. 42-48
ISI
000433116800002
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 12.06.2018
Last edited 23.08.2022
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