Changes of IL-6 And IFN-γ before and after the adverse events related to immune checkpoint inhibitors: A retrospective study

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have changed the status of tumor immunotherapy. ICIs-related adverse events (irAEs) have the high incidence and are difficult to predict and prevent. Researches have suggested that changes of cytokines were associated with irAEs. This study focused on the changes of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interferon-gamma in patients before and after irAEs and trying to find the biomarkers of irAEs. Collect basic data of patients who were treated with ICIs in China-Japan Friendship Hospital from January 2017 to August 2021 and had irAEs. Make statistics on IL-6 and INF-gamma in the blood before and after irAEs. A total of 10 patients were enrolled, including 7 males and 3 females. According to statistical analysis, the IL-6 concentration level after irAEs was significantly higher than before, and the difference was statistically significant (P = .023); the interferon-gamma concentration level was not changed significantly from before, the difference was not statistically significant (P = .853). The elevation of IL-6 was associated with the occurrence of adverse reactions in ICIs.

Automated summary

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized tumor immunotherapy. Changes in cytokines have been associated with ICIs-related adverse events (irAEs). This study aimed to identify biomarkers for irAEs by investigating the changes in interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interferon-gamma levels before and after irAEs in patients treated with ICIs.