Research progress on peripheral neuropathy related to tumor immunotherapy

doi:10.16138/j.1673-6087.2025.05.08

Abstract

Abstract:

With the rapid development of tumor immunotherapy, the widespread clinical application of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) and chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy has raised concerns about their associated neurotoxicity, which is known as neurologic immune-related adverse event (n-irAE). Immunotherapy significantly improves long-term survival rate of some patients by enhancing the host immune system’s ability to recognize and eliminate tumor cells. However, overactivation of the immune system can also lead to a range of immune-related adverse event (irAE) affecting non-tumor organs. Although neurological involvement is relatively uncommon, it is highly heterogeneous and can cause severe consequences. Peripheral neuropathy (PN) is one of the most important and potentially disabling manifestations. The clinical presentations of PN are diverse, including polyneuropathy, Guillain-Barré syndrome, radiculopathy, and sensory disturbances. The underlying pathogenesis is not fully understood but may involve immune dysregulation, autoantibodies, inflammatory cytokines, and individual genetic susceptibility. This review summarizes recent advances in the clinical features, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of PN associated with cancer immunotherapy, aiming to provide insights for early clinical recognition and intervention.

Key words: Cancer, Immunotherapy, Peripheral neuropathy, Epidemiology

CLC Number:

R730.51
R741

ZHANG Yao, HAN Ting, WANG Yu, WANG Chunyan, XIAO Xiuying. Research progress on peripheral neuropathy related to tumor immunotherapy[J]. Journal of Internal Medicine Concepts & Practice, 2025, 20(05): 388-392.

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