When Should You Stop Immunotherapy? Resistance, irAEs & Retreatment Strategies

When should clinicians continue, pause, or permanently discontinue immunotherapy? In this episode of Oncology Unfiltered, Melissa Cutrona sits down with Matthew Hadfield, DO, Editor-in-Chief of Oncology Data Advisor, to discuss the complex clinical challenges of long-term checkpoint inhibitor management. Together, they explore subtle immune-related adverse events (irAEs), tumor microenvironment resistance mechanisms, optimal treatment duration, and the risk-benefit balance of retreatment. 🔗 Read the companion article on Oncology Data Advisor: https://oncdata.com/oncology-unfiltered-immunotherapy-fatigue 🎙️ FEATURING: • Melissa Cutrona – Co-Founder & General Manager, i3 Health and Oncology Data Advisor • Matthew Hadfield, DO – Editor-in-Chief, Oncology Data Advisor 📌 CLINICAL HIGHLIGHTS: - Identifying non-specific irAEs (endocrine complications, fatigue, pneumonitis) - Tumor microenvironment evasion & resistance across cancer types - Evaluating complete response vs. stable disease for treatment stopping points - Safety & rationale of restarting immunotherapy after progression or toxicity - Incorporating shared decision-making, patient burden, and ctDNA surveillance ⏱️ CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS: 💬 DISCUSSION FOR CLINICIANS: How do you navigate the decision to pause or discontinue immunotherapy in patients with stable disease or low-grade toxicity? Let us know your clinical approach in the comments! Stay Connected: Subscribe for more deep dives into oncology research and practice. Website: https://oncdata.com/ Follow us on X/Twitter: @OncData Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction: The Evolving Role of Immunotherapy 01:50 - Spotting Subtle & Variable Immune-Related Adverse Events 04:45 - How Tumors Evade Checkpoint Inhibitors 07:30 - Duration of Therapy: How Long Should Patients Remain on Treatment?