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News
Cancer patients with pre-existing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are nearly five times more likely to develop immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-mediated enterocolitis than those without intestinal disease. But here's the silver lining: a Danish nationwide study found that 72% of IBD patients were still able to continue or resume their cancer immunotherapy. The type of IBD matters too — Crohn's disease carried a notably lower risk than ulcerative colitis.
Cancer patients with pre-existing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) face a significantly elevated risk of a serious gut complication when treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) — but most can still safely stay the course on their cancer therapy. A nationwide Danish retrospective cohort study published in JCO Oncology Practice examined 85 IBD patients (with ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, or microscopic colitis) who received ICI therapy for cancers including melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer.
Nearly half (46%) of patients developed ICI-mediated enterocolitis (IMC) during treatment. Despite this, 72% of the total study population were able to continue or resume first-line ICI therapy — a reassuring finding for oncologists weighing the risks and benefits in this complex patient group.
By the Numbers
Why it matters: IBD patients have historically been excluded from cancer immunotherapy trials, leaving clinicians with little guidance. This study offers real-world evidence that while vigilance is essential, ICI therapy shouldn't be automatically ruled out for IBD patients — the cancer treatment benefits generally outweigh the colitis risk.
