Gastrointestinal Tract Adverse Events

Abstract

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have shown significant benefit in cancer patients. Their success, however, is associated with immune-related adverse events (irAEs), which commonly affect the gastrointestinal tract, resulting in diarrhea and colitis. IrAEs range from mild self-limiting to severe life-threatening diseases and potentially limit the use of these medications. Diagnosis of ICI-induced enterocolitis is based on clinical symptoms, physical examination, stool tests, endoscopic and histologic evaluation, and/or imaging. Current management strategy is mainly anti-diarrheal agents for mild symptoms and immunosuppressants (e.g., corticosteroids, and infliximab or vedolizumab) for more severe diseases.