As the treatments for cancer increase and we see therapies with novel mechanisms beyond the traditional we are also seeing a change in the range of toxicities our patients are experiencing.
Clinicians are now challenged with how to optimally recognise and treat these toxicities to ensure patients get the best possible care.
Prior to the introduction of chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy (CAR-T) cytokine release syndrome (CRS) was a very rare complication and not seen often. Even with CAR-T therapy CRS and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) became more recognised but not seen in many hospitals due to the limits on where CAR-T is performed.
The introduction of bispecific antibody T-cell engager (BiTe) and similar therapies has increased the incidence of CRS and ICANS being seen and the increased funding and use of these therapies in many hospitals means the toxicities are being seen more often and in more hospitals.
Early recognition of potential CRS and ICANS and prompt treatment is vital for patient safety.
This presentation will look at recognition of CRS and ICANS and the current evidence for treatment.