Immunotherapies have helped countless people battle cancer. For mesothelioma patients, these drugs offer better survival and quality of life. They may come with a few side effects, but not every reaction is a bad sign. In fact, some immunotherapy side effects may suggest good survival outcomes.
Experts say a shrinking or stable tumor can show immunotherapy is working. For some cancers, side effects may also mean tumors are responding to treatment. Reactions linked to immunotherapy success include:
- Any immune-related side effects
- Various skin reactions
- Vitiligo rash
You need not worry if you do not experience these side effects. These reactions do not happen in every person whose cancer responds to immunotherapy. The important thing is for you to discuss any health changes with your oncologist. This information allows doctors to continue to optimize your treatment plan.
1: Immune-Related Side Effects
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are the most commonly used immunotherapy drugs. Doctors use them to treat a number of different cancers. ICIs help the immune system identify and attack cancer cells.
Many trials have reported on the survival benefits and side effects of ICIs. So researchers have been able to study the link between the two. Across multiple studies of different cancers, patients who had immune-related side effects survived longer than those who didn’t.
As of December 2023, no studies had reported this relationship for mesothelioma. But several have found it in lung cancer patients treated with the same drugs used to treat pleural mesothelioma.
These studies shed a more hopeful light on the immune-related side effects of ICIs. But patients should not assume these reactions always indicate treatment success. Only experienced health professionals can make this determination.
2: Skin Reactions
Itchy skin and rashes are among the most common treatment side effects of ICIs. Research indicates these reactions may mean treatment is working well. In ICI studies, skin-related side effects were linked to better survival in several types of cancer, including:
- Bladder cancer
- Lung cancer
- Skin cancer
As of December 2023, this relationship had not been reported in mesothelioma research. But additional analysis of clinical trial data could change that in the future.
Vitiligo Rash Linked to Skin Cancer Prognosis
Vitiligo is a condition in which patches of skin lose color (pigment), turning milky white. Several studies have looked at the relationship between this reaction and skin cancer prognosis. For patients treated with ICIs, vitiligo may mean treatment is working well. In fact, one study found skin cancer patients who developed vitiligo had a 75% lower risk of death than those without it.
What Does This Mean for Mesothelioma Patients?
Many studies support the link between side effects and ICI efficacy. But that doesn’t mean these reactions are necessary for ICIs to work, according to current research. For now, this link simply means immunotherapy side effects should not inspire despair. Patients have reason to hope these reactions may simply be a sign that treatment is working.
Regardless of any link between side effects and prognosis, patients should quickly report all reactions to their care teams. This can help doctors intervene before things become too serious. And the worst immunotherapy side effects can become life-threatening. So patients and their loved ones should prioritize getting reactions treated as swiftly as possible.
