The immune checkpoint molecules are involved in the regulation of T cells in order to prevent them from attacking to sell tissues and play a role in the immune response homeostasis. Application of the immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has provided a promising therapeutic approach in pathologies where the immune system is suppressed. The extended utilization of ICIs in several cancers has caused immune-related side effects in the cardiovascular system like cardiomyopathy and myocarditis. Cardiac toxicity, one of the main side effects of the ICIs-based therapeutic approach, has less been concerned; however, during the last years, many cases of fatal heart failure and myocarditis have been reported in patients treated with ICIs. In this review article, we attempted to discuss the cardiac adverse effects of inhibiting different immune checkpoint molecules.
Keywords: cancer; cardiotoxicity; immune checkpoint; immune checkpoint inhibitors.
© 2020 International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.