Targeted Therapies Seem Beneficial for Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Related Myotoxicity

THURSDAY, March 2, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- A strategy including identification of severe immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-related myocarditis based on screening combined with active ventilation and treatment seems beneficial for reducing the myotoxicity-related fatality rate, according to a study published online Feb. 23 in Cancer Discovery.

Joe-Elie Salem, M.D., Ph.D., from Sorbonne Université in Paris, and colleagues reported results of a strategy including screening for and managing concomitant respiratory muscle involvement with mechanical ventilation and treatment with abatacept and ruxolitinib for individuals with severe ICI-myocarditis. Data were included for 40 patients with definite ICI-myocarditis; the first 10 were treated using recommended guidelines, while the subsequent 30 patients underwent systematic screening for respiratory muscle involvement as well as active ventilation and treatment with ruxolitinib and abatacept.