Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41677859›Full record

ArticleCancer immunology, immunotherapy : CII2026

Rituximab for severe immune checkpoint inhibitor-related adverse events: a multicenter case series.

Stéphanie Hermabessiere, Benjamin Jauzelon, Steven Marmain, Axelle Wauthier, Philine Witkowski Durand Viel, Elodie Castille, Guillaume Padern, Anouck Lamoureux, Quentin Dominique Thomas, Xavier Quantin and 2 more

Abstract readMulticenter Study
In one paragraph

Article in Cancer immunology, immunotherapy : CII, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Stéphanie HermabessiereDepartment of Internal Medicine and Clinical Immunology, Saint Eloi Hospital, Montpellier University Hospital, 80 Avenue Augustin-Fliche, 34295, Montpellier Cedex 5, France.
Benjamin JauzelonDepartment of Internal Medicine and Clinical Immunology, Saint Eloi Hospital, Montpellier University Hospital, 80 Avenue Augustin-Fliche, 34295, Montpellier Cedex 5, France.
Steven MarmainInternal Medicine Department, Nîmes University Hospital, Nîmes, France.
Axelle WauthierInternal Medicine Department, Nîmes University Hospital, Nîmes, France.
Philine Witkowski Durand VielMontpellier Cancer Institute (ICM), University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France.
Elodie CastilleInternal Medicine Department, Clement-Ville Clinic, Montpellier, France.
Guillaume PadernInternal Medicine Department, Nîmes University Hospital, Nîmes, France.
Anouck LamoureuxDepartment of Dermatology, Montpellier University Hospital, Montpellier, France.
Quentin Dominique ThomasMontpellier Cancer Institute (ICM), University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France.
Xavier QuantinMontpellier Cancer Institute (ICM), University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France.
Alexandre T J MariaDepartment of Internal Medicine and Clinical Immunology, Saint Eloi Hospital, Montpellier University Hospital, 80 Avenue Augustin-Fliche, 34295, Montpellier Cedex 5, France.
Cyrille CoustalDepartment of Internal Medicine and Clinical Immunology, Saint Eloi Hospital, Montpellier University Hospital, 80 Avenue Augustin-Fliche, 34295, Montpellier Cedex 5, France. c-coustal@chu-montpellier.fr.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundImmune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) can induce severe immune-related adverse events (irAEs) that are life-threatening and may be refractory to standard immunosuppressive therapy. Rituximab has emerged as a potential treatment option, but evidence is limited.

methodsWe conducted a retrospective multicenter study including patients who received rituximab for severe ICI-related irAEs between 2018 and 2023. Clinical characteristics, type and severity of irAEs, previous immunosuppressive regimens, outcomes after rituximab, and oncologic status were collected. Overall survival was estimated from rituximab initiation.

resultsEighteen patients were identified (median age 66 years, 55% male). irAEs were mainly neurological syndromes (n = 7), myositis and myocarditis (n = 6), and interstitial lung disease (n = 3). All events were grade 3-4 according to common terminology criteria for adverse events v5.0 and refractory to corticosteroids, often combined with additional immunosuppressants. Rituximab was administered as second- or third-line therapy. Clinical improvement was observed in 83% of patients, including complete resolution in 39%. After a median follow-up from rituximab initiation of 9.7 months (interquartile range [IQR] 5.1-23.9), seven patients (39%) died, but due to irAE only for three patients (17%).

conclusionsRituximab appears to be an effective therapeutic option for selected severe ICI-related irAEs, particularly when conventional immunosuppressive regimens fail. These real-world data highlight the potential role of B-cell-targeted therapy in the management of complex irAEs and support further evaluation in prospective studies.

Indexed as

Antineoplastic Agents, ImmunologicalDrug-Related Side Effects and Adverse ReactionsImmune Checkpoint InhibitorsNeoplasmsRituximabAgedFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedRetrospective StudiesAntineoplastic Agents, ImmunologicalImmune Checkpoint InhibitorsRituximabCancerICI-related adverse events (IrAEs)Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)Rituximab

Identifiers

PMID41677859
PMCPMC12901748

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.