A new commentary from Duke Health, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, warns that common over‑the‑counter and prescription medicines may change immunotherapy results. Lead author Nicholas DeVito, an assistant professor in medical oncology at Duke University School of Medicine, said interactions with the immune system are often not considered.
The authors reviewed more than 50 studies and found evidence that several widely used drugs can affect immunotherapy. Some drugs appear to reduce how well immunotherapy works, while others may improve response; the commentary also notes that some medicines can cause or increase side effects during treatment.
The researchers recommend better and more consistent recording of all medications in clinical trials, prospective studies to confirm these findings, and practical changes in care such as patient education and electronic health record prompts for clinicians.
Difficult words
- commentary — short article that discusses research or findings
- immunotherapy — treatment that uses the body's immune system
- interaction — effect when two things change each otherinteractions
- evidence — information or data that shows if true
- side effect — an unwanted symptom caused by a treatmentside effects
- clinical trial — a medical study testing treatments on patientsclinical trials
- recommend — to suggest what people should do
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Why is it important to record all medications in clinical trials? Give two reasons.
- What practical change from the article would help patients the most, in your opinion? Why?
- How could electronic health record prompts help clinicians during treatment?
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