Objectives: The study focuses on evaluating the side effects of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in cancer patients. ICIs such as CTLA-4 and PD-1 have emerged as a crucial treatment option in oncology. The study was conducted in two patient cohorts treated between 2021-2022 and 2016-2018 to analyze the prevalence and severity of immune-related rheumatologic adverse events (Rh-irAEs). Methods: In the 2021-2022 cohort, 135 patients treated with ICIs were included, and data were collected regarding their age, cancer diagnosis, prior treatments, and rheumatologic side effects. Details were recorded about the type of ICI used, treatment duration, and the number of doses administered before the onset of Rh-irAEs. Laboratory analyses were performed to assess inflammatory markers. In the 2016-2018 cohort, 21 patients treated with ICIs were included, and similar data were collected regarding age, cancer diagnosis, prior treatments, and rheumatologic side effects. Laboratory analyses were also conducted in this cohort. Both cohorts were compared in terms of the prevalence and severity of rheumatologic side effects, as well as the treatment administered to address these side effects Results: In the 2021-2022 cohort, it was observed that most of patients were younger compared to the 2016-2018 cohort. The most common rheumatologic side effects were arthralgia and arthritis. Levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) were lower in this cohort. In the 2016-2018 cohort, all patients developed rheumatologic side effects, with arthritis and arthralgia being the most common. Comparison between both cohorts revealed that there were no significant differences in the prevalence or severity of rheumatologic side effects between them. Furthermore, no significant differences were observed in the treatment administered to address these side effects between the two cohorts. Conclusion: The study suggests that the use of ICIs is on the rise, and rheumatologic side effects do not appear to be more severe with the newer drugs. This supports the safety of using ICIs in cancer treatment. However, limitations of the study, such as sample size and lack of representation of the general population, should be taken into consideration. In summary, the results indicate that ICIs continue to be a safe treatment option in oncology, and the prevalence and severity of rheumatologic side effects have not significantly changed with the introduction of new medications. REFERENCES: [1] Naimi A, Mohammed RN, Raji A, Chupradit S, Yumashev AV, Suksatan W, et al. Tumor immunotherapies by immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs); the pros and cons. Vol. 20, Cell Communication and Signaling. BioMed Central Ltd; 2022. [2] Das S, Johnson DB. Immune-related adverse events and anti-tumor efficacy of immune checkpointinhibitors. Vol. 7, Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer. BioMed Central Ltd.; 2019. [3] Pérez C, Ojeda F, Pros A, Beltrán E, Salman T, Arriola E, Monfort J. Manifestacions articulars secundàries a immunoteràpia: característiques clíniques i evolució. Barcelona; 2019 Feb. Acknowledgements: NIL. Disclosure of Interests: None declared.
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