Abstract

PHARMACOLOGY AND IT’S ADVERSE REACTIONS OF IMMUNETHERAPY DRUGS IN ONCOLOGY

Lella Janaki*, Nali Mallikarjuna Rao, Kasa Aswini, Jonnalagadda Pravallika, Maradani Sirisha

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Abstract

Immunotherapy is one of the most advanced cancer treatments that uses the body’s own immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells. It mainly works by blocking immune checkpoints such as PD-1, PD-L1, and CTLA-4, which are used by tumor cells to break immune attack.[1,2,3] Some drugs like nivolumab, pembrolizumab and ipilimumab are monoclonal antibodies that improve immune cell activation and survival.[4,7] These drugs show long-lasting results because they activate memory T-cells that continue to fight cancer even after treatment stops. However, excessive immune activation can cause side effects called immune-related adverse reactions (irAEs), which affect various organs such as the skin, lungs, intestines, liver, and endocrine glands.[5,9,10,13] These reactions differ from normal chemotherapy side effects because they are autoimmune in nature. Most can be controlled by steroids or temporarily stopping therapy.[6,11] This review clearly explains the pharmacology, mechanisms, and types of adverse effects related to immunotherapy, along with steps to manage them efficiently. It also highlights the importance of pharmacovigilance and patient monitoring to make cancer immunotherapy safer and more successful in the future.[8,15]

Keywords: Immunotherapy, Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors, Pharmacology, PD-1, CTLA-4, Adverse Drug Reactions, Pharmacovigilance, Cancer Immunology, Immune Toxicity.