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Immune-related adverse events are an unintentional side effect of immune checkpoint inhibitors used for cancer immunotherapy. Immune checkpoint inhibitors upregulate the immune system to prevent tumor evasion and promote destruction of tumor cells. These immune checkpoint inhibitors are effective as noted by the expanding number of FDA-approved drugs in this class and number of indications. In upregulating the immune system to target tumor cells, these immune checkpoint inhibitors can tip the balance of the immune system to overreact against normal cells, leading to presentations similar to autoimmune diseases. Emergence of immune-related adverse events can provide insight to rare autoimmune diseases.

Rumey Ishizawar is an assistant professor of Medicine and the medical director of the Rheumatology Specialty Clinic. She is developing an autoimmunity database, studying oncology patients that develop immune-related adverse events. The immune-oncology patient registry will promote clinical, translational and basic research.