Drugs that act on the immune system: Cytokines and monoclonal antibodies

Abstract

Abstract Medications that act on the immune system include immunostimulants such as recombinant cytokines, monoclonal antibody cytokine antagonists, and monoclonal antibodies which prevent cancer cells from evading the immune system. These medications fill a unique niche in disease management and have unique safety profiles. This chapter is an update to Chapter 36 : Drugs That Act on the Immune System: Cytokines and Monoclonal Antibodies in the Side Effects Drug Annual, 40. In this chapter update, information about side effects (SEs) of these medications published in the English language is summarized as a reference for clinicians. Two meta-analyses, 6 major reviews, 4 randomized controlled trials, and 16 case reports were included in this chapter. Publications reporting novel or severe SEs with clinical significance were included. Many of the SEs noted are due to the fact that these medications impact the activity of the immune system. Of significant note is the emergence of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) with the use of immune checkpoint inhibitor monoclonal antibodies.