Severe Immunotherapy Complications Program
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Care for immunotherapy side effects
Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that helps the immune system find and attack cancer. For some patients, it can reduce tumor size and lead to long-lasting remission. However, it can also cause the immune system to become overactive, leading to immune-related adverse events (irAEs). This toxicity can affect nearly every organ system.
The SIC Service brings together oncology and subspecialty experts to diagnose, treat, and monitor these side effects over time. Our goal is to manage toxicity, protect quality of life, and help patients continue cancer treatment safely when possible.
Advancing care for severe immunotherapy complications
The Severe Immunotherapy Complications (SIC) Service was established in 2017 after physicians recognized that immune-related adverse events (irAEs) were often poorly understood and could threaten both quality of life and a patient's ability to continue potentially life-saving cancer treatment. As the first program of its kind in the country, SIC was designed to bring together subspecialists from across Mass General Brigham to provide coordinated care for patients experiencing these complex complications.
Today, more than 60 specialists across multiple disciplines—including cardiology, gastroenterology, pulmonology, rheumatology, dermatology, neurology, and oncology—participate in patient care and research. The program follows patients over time and combines clinical expertise with translational science to better understand the mechanisms driving immunotherapy toxicity.
Our team has helped develop consensus definitions, diagnostic approaches, and treatment strategies that influence the care of patients with immunotherapy complications far beyond Mass General Brigham. Through ongoing research, we are working to develop more precise treatments that reduce toxicity while preserving the benefits of cancer immunotherapy.
Research-driven expertise
Every patient with signs of a serious immunotherapy complication is evaluated by an oncologist with specialized expertise. Our team focuses on these toxicities every day, allowing us to deliver coordinated, expert care.
We work closely with specialists across many clinical areas to address complications affecting different organ systems and provide comprehensive support throughout treatment.
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