Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors (ICIs) & Tuberculosis (TB)

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), especially those that block PD‑1/PD‑L1, can increase the risk of developing tuberculosis (TB). This usually happens by reactivating a TB infection that was already present but inactive, rather than causing a new infection. Although the overall risk is low, it is significant enough that experts suggest checking for TB risk and, in some cases, screening for latent TB before beginning treatment with ICIs. This is particularly important in areas where TB is common or for patients who are at higher risk (1, 2, 3, 4).

References:

(1) Chen et al. 2024 Oncologist 29(4): e498-e506
(2) Anastasopoulou et al. 2019 J Immunother Cancer 7(1): 239
(3) Liu et al. 2022 Fron…