Recently, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have received a lot of attention to treat gastrointestinal cancers. Compared with traditional treatments, immunotherapy can kill cancer cells by activating the antitumor immunity, the specific recognition of cancer antigens preventing normal cells from being attacked. However, the application of ICIs is accompanied by a series of specific toxic reactions caused by the functional stimulation of the immune system, which are called immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Early identification and timely intervention to handle irAEs are usually required to maximize the therapeutic effect of ICIs. In addition, related surgical complications after neoadjuvant immunotherapy is increasingly reported.
Thus, although immunotherapy has shown obvious advantages in the clinical treatment of gastrointestinal cancers, the safety and potential risks of such treatment have to be considered. Many clinical studies have shown that cancer patients receiving neoadjuvant immunotherapy experience different degrees of immune-inflammatory reaction, immune disorders, immune-related pneumonia, and other adverse events. In addition, some patients suffering from irAEs during the treatment have to face a delayed operation or even lose the opportunity to be operated. Finally, because the clinical imaging manifestations of immunotherapy are complex and diverse, the imaging evaluation criteria have so far not been standardized.
The aim of this Research Topic is to report disputes and challenges of immune checkpoint inhibitors in gastrointestinal cancers. We welcome original research articles, Review articles, Mini Reviews, and Case reports. Preferred topics include but are not limited to the following:
• Timely discovery of immune-related adverse events during immunotherapy
• Identification and differentiation between immune-related adverse events and adverse drug events
• Treatment and drug withdrawal timing upon immune-related adverse events
• Management of related surgical complications after neoadjuvant immunotherapy
• Imaging evaluation criteria or methods of immunotherapy efficacy
Recently, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have received a lot of attention to treat gastrointestinal cancers. Compared with traditional treatments, immunotherapy can kill cancer cells by activating the antitumor immunity, the specific recognition of cancer antigens preventing normal cells from being attacked. However, the application of ICIs is accompanied by a series of specific toxic reactions caused by the functional stimulation of the immune system, which are called immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Early identification and timely intervention to handle irAEs are usually required to maximize the therapeutic effect of ICIs. In addition, related surgical complications after neoadjuvant immunotherapy is increasingly reported.
Thus, although immunotherapy has shown obvious advantages in the clinical treatment of gastrointestinal cancers, the safety and potential risks of such treatment have to be considered. Many clinical studies have shown that cancer patients receiving neoadjuvant immunotherapy experience different degrees of immune-inflammatory reaction, immune disorders, immune-related pneumonia, and other adverse events. In addition, some patients suffering from irAEs during the treatment have to face a delayed operation or even lose the opportunity to be operated. Finally, because the clinical imaging manifestations of immunotherapy are complex and diverse, the imaging evaluation criteria have so far not been standardized.
The aim of this Research Topic is to report disputes and challenges of immune checkpoint inhibitors in gastrointestinal cancers. We welcome original research articles, Review articles, Mini Reviews, and Case reports. Preferred topics include but are not limited to the following:
• Timely discovery of immune-related adverse events during immunotherapy
• Identification and differentiation between immune-related adverse events and adverse drug events
• Treatment and drug withdrawal timing upon immune-related adverse events
• Management of related surgical complications after neoadjuvant immunotherapy
• Imaging evaluation criteria or methods of immunotherapy efficacy