GoodFellow

Immune checkpoint inhibitors - Rosalie Stephens

Date Published

Tuesday, 07 August 2018

Duration

23:55

Category

Oncology

Rosalie Stephens talks about immune checkpoint inhibitors; a new cancer treatment. Rosalie is a medical oncologist specialising in the treatment of patients with melanoma, breast and gynaecological cancers. Rosalie works at Auckland Hospital and is also at the New Zealand melanoma unit in Takapuna.

Topics

The new class of drugs and which are available in New Zealand.
How do these new drugs work?
What are the current indications for the immune checkpoint inhibitors?
What adverse effects should we be looking for?
Keytruda and its treatment for melanoma.

Take home messages

These drugs are having a big impact already.
Most success has been in advanced melanoma.
The drugs are mostly well tolerated.
Red flags are anything neurological, diarrhoea, dry cough, shortness of breath.

Resources

Immune checkpoint inhibitors: a new cancer treatment BPAC (2018)
Checkpoint inhibitors Cancer Research UK website
Special Authority forms Pharmac

Patient Resources

Presenter

Rosalie Stephens

Medical Oncologist

To contact Rosalie Click here.

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