Opinion
Video
Immunotherapy-Induced Adrenal Insufficiency in Melanoma: Surveillance and Management
Afreen Shariff, MD, MBBS, examines the surveillance and management of immunotherapy-induced adrenal insufficiency in the context of melanoma, underscoring the importance of maintaining a heightened awareness for early detection.
This is a video synopsis/summary of an OncLive Insights® involving Afreen Shariff, MD, MBBS; Javid Moslehi, MD; and Nikhil Khushalani, MD.
Khushalani notes increased use of various immunotherapy combinations for metastatic or neoadjuvant melanoma, raising concerns for subtle adrenal insufficiency, which is still common. Shariff highlights the importance of maintaining a high suspicion based on subjective fatigue severity/progression and objective trends in weight, blood pressure, and electrolyte level to determine whether laboratory tests are needed. Recognizing adrenal crisis signs preoperatively also matters.
On endocrinopathies, Shariff stresses that they are chronic, so although patients can safely continue immunotherapy, hormone replacement is likely indefinite. She concludes that pretreatment counseling on quality-of-life impacts can help patients understand long-term toxicities such as endocrine dysfunction vs solely emphasizing acute risks when initially consenting.
Video synopsis is AI generated and reviewed by OncLive® editorial staff.
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