• Jinlan Li, Shanshan Chen, Ting Yan, and Meizi Zeng.
• Department of Pharmacy, Hunan Cancer Hospital, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China.
• J Coll Physicians Surg Pak. 2024 Mar 1; 34 (3): 302307302-307.

ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical characteristics, treatment methods, outcomes, and variables influencing the outcomes of checkpoint inhibitor-related pneumonitis (CIP) among Chinese cancer patients.Study DesignDescriptive Study. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of Pharmacy, Hunan Cancer Hospital, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China, from January 2019 to December 2022.MethodologyPatients with CIP were inducted. Clinical data including patient characteristics, ICI protocols; and the clinical features, treatments, and outcomes of CIP were collected and analysed.ResultsOne hundred and forty-six patients were included. Median time to onset in the CIP was 17.0 weeks (range: 0.4 - 74.7). Mild CIP and severe CIP accounted for 84.93% and 15.07% of cases, respectively. All patients with CIP received methylprednisolone treatment, with an average starting dose of 1.64 mg/kg (0.59-6.00 mg/kg), and 79 (54.11%) of them received anti-infective therapy. One hundred and thirteen (77.04%) patients had improved symptoms of pneumonia, with only 33 (22.60%) patients displaying no improvement. Multivariate analysis revealed that the severity of CIP [OR = 0.167 (95% CI 0.061-0.461), p <0.001] and the starting dose of methylprednisolone [OR = 0.314 (95% CI 0.129-0.764), p <0.001] were independent predictors of outcomes of CIP, while the use of antibiotic was not.ConclusionThe severity of CIP and the initial dosage of methylprednisolone administered are significant factors that impact the outcomes of CIP in Chinese cancer patients after ICI treatment. Appropriate use of glucocorticoids and antibiotics is a necessary management strategy to control CIP effectively.Key WordsImmune checkpoint inhibitors, Immune-related adverse events, Checkpoint inhibitor-related pneumonitis, Glucocorticosteroids, Antibiotics, Prognostic factors.

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