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Review

Adverse Drug Reactions Associated with Cancer Immunotherapy: Mechanisms, Clinical Spectrum, and Management Strategies

1, 1, 2

  1. 1Department of Pharmacy Practice, Karnataka College of Pharmacy, Bengaluru, Karnataka, INDIA.
  2. 2Clinical Pharmacist (Oncology), Bangalore Baptist Hospital, Bangalore, Karnataka, INDIA.

CORRESPONDENCE

Darshan TM

Department of Pharmacy Practice, Karnataka College of Pharmacy, Bengaluru, Karnataka, INDIA.

darshantm03@gmail.com

Received: 23-03-2026; Accepted: 07-07-2026.

Volume 19, Issue 4 · pp. 447-450 · 2026 · DOI: 10.5530/ijopp.20260743

ABSTRACT

Cancer immunotherapy has substantially reshaped contemporary oncology by improving survival outcomes across solid tumours and haematological malignancies. Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors (ICIs) and Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapies enhance antitumor immune activity but are associated with a distinctive spectrum of immune-mediated adverse drug reactions, collectively termed immune-Related Adverse Events (irAEs). These toxicities may involve virtually any organ system and range from mild, self-limiting manifestations to severe, life-threatening complications requiring aggressive immunosuppression. This review provides a structured synthesis of the mechanisms, clinical manifestations, grading systems, and evidence-based management strategies for immunotherapy-associated adverse reactions, with particular emphasis on ICIs and CAR-T therapies. Updated international consensus recommendations are incorporated to support standardized clinical practice. Structured pharmacovigilance frameworks and multidisciplinary collaboration-including formal integration of clinical pharmacists-are emphasized as critical components to improve early detection, optimize toxicity management, and enhance patient safety outcomes.

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    TM, D., Ramaiah, B., & Kumar, D. (2026). Adverse Drug Reactions Associated with Cancer Immunotherapy: Mechanisms, Clinical Spectrum, and Management Strategies. Indian Journal of Pharmacy Practice, 19(4), 447-450. https://doi.org/10.5530/ijopp.20260743

    Copyright and licence

    © 2026 Author(s)

    This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. CC BY 4.0