Delayed and re-emergent immune-related adverse events can persist years after melanoma checkpoint therapy, says expert

Dr. Michael A. Postow, chief of the Melanoma Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, explained that immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) for melanoma have a distinct toxicity profile compared with traditional cancer therapies.

Unlike conventional treatments where side effects usually appear early and subside after therapy ends, ICIs can rewire the immune system, leading to immune-related adverse events (irAEs) that may emerge months or even years after the last dose. Some of these irAEs are chronic, persisting beyond three years.

Postow emphasized that the medical community is only beginning to understand these long-term inflammatory complications, highlighting the need for ongoing monitoring of patients long after ICI treatment concludes.