Onkológia 3/2025
Toxicity of immune checkpoint inhibitors in the elderly patients
Treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors has become a central topic in oncology in recent years. Geriatric patients represent a heterogeneous population with multiple comorbidities and frequent polypharmacy, which significantly influences the safety and efficacy of immunotherapy. This article analyses the incidence and profile of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) in older adults, emphasizing the necessity of an individualized approach and comprehensive geriatric assessment prior to treatment initiation. Despite concerns regarding increased toxicity, clinical trials have shown that checkpoint inhibitor therapy is generally well tolerated in the elderly population, particularly with close monitoring and timely management of irAEs. Age alone should not be a limiting factor when considering checkpoint inhibitor treatment; rather, decisions should be based on the patient’s overall health status and functional capacity.
Keywords: check point inhibitors, geriatric patients, immunotherapy-related adverse effects, immunity in geriatric patients
