<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>Treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors is effective in various cancers, but may be associated with immune-mediated side effects in other organs. Among the more common ones is gastrointestinal tract involvement, especially colitis. In most patients, colitis is mild or responds to corticosteroid treatment. A smaller proportion of patients, more often those treated with cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 inhibitors, may have a more severe course of colitis, even life-threatening complications. In these patients, prompt action, timely diagnosis with endoscopic evaluation and early treatment with high-dose corticosteroids and, if ineffective, rescue therapy with biologic agents such as infliximab and vedolizumab are needed. We present three cases from our clinical practice, data on incidence and clinical presentation, current recommendations regarding diagnostic approach and treatment of immune checkpoint inhibitors induced colitis.</p>
</abstract>

Treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors is effective in various cancers, but may be associated with immune-mediated side effects in other organs. Among the more common ones is gastrointestinal tract involvement, especially colitis. In most patients, colitis is mild or responds to corticosteroid treatment. A smaller proportion of patients, more often those treated with cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 inhibitors, may have a more severe course of colitis, even life-threatening complications. In these patients, prompt action, timely diagnosis with endoscopic evaluation and early treatment with high-dose corticosteroids and, if ineffective, rescue therapy with biologic agents such as infliximab and vedolizumab are needed. We present three cases from our clinical practice, data on incidence and clinical presentation, current recommendations regarding diagnostic approach and treatment of immune checkpoint inhibitors induced colitis.

Colitis due to cancer treatment with immune check-point inhibitors – review of literature and presentation of clinical cases

Department of Gastroenterology, Division of Internal Medicine

Radiology and Oncology

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors is effective in various cancers, but may be associated with immune-mediated side effects in other organs. Among the...

Colitis due to cancer treatment with immune check-point inhibitors – review of literature and presentation of clinical cases

Article Category: Review

Published Online: Mar 22, 2024

Page range: -

Received: Aug 10, 2023

Accepted: Jan 29, 2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/raon-2024-0022

Keywords
immune checkpoint inhibitors, immune checkpoint inhibitors induced colitis, immune-mediated microscopic colitis, corticosteroid therapy, infliximab, vedolizumab

© 2024 Andreja Ocepek, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Colitis due to cancer treatment with immune check-point inhibitors – review of literature and presentation of clinical cases

Article Category: Review

Published Online: Mar 22, 2024

Page range: -

Received: Aug 10, 2023

Accepted: Jan 29, 2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/raon-2024-0022

Keywordsimmune checkpoint inhibitors, immune checkpoint inhibitors induced colitis, immune-mediated microscopic colitis, corticosteroid therapy, infliximab, vedolizumab

© 2024 Andreja Ocepek, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Keywords
immune checkpoint inhibitors, immune checkpoint inhibitors induced colitis, immune-mediated microscopic colitis, corticosteroid therapy, infliximab, vedolizumab