The safety and efficacy of immune-checkpoint inhibitors in patients with cancer and pre-existing autoimmune diseases

Objective: This study aims at investigating the safety and efficacy of immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in patients with cancer and pre-existing autoimmune disease (AID). Materials & methods: PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Library were searched for relevant studies. The primary end points of the study were immunotoxicity and cancer response. Results: At the early use of ICIs, compared with those with active AID, grade 3-4 AID flare occurred more frequently in patients with inactive AID after treatment with ICIs; and the incidence of grade 3-4 immunotoxic effects was significantly lower in patients undergoing immunosuppressive therapy than those without corresponding treatment. In addition, patients with worsening AID generally obtained a better objective response than those without a flare. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that the toxic effects induced by immunotherapy are generally manageable in patients with cancer and pre-existing AID, some of whom even achieve satisfactory antitumor effects in clinical practice.