The Immunotherapy Adverse Events in Rheumatology Program treats patients who have adverse events—undesirable outcomes not related to underlying disease—due to immunotherapy or who have autoimmune conditions that may cause flare-ups, or a severe onset of symptoms, when receiving immunotherapy. Immunotherapy treatments—such as immune checkpoint inhibitors, CAR T-cell therapy, and cancer vaccines—use the body’s immune system to fight cancer. Approximately 20% to 25% of cancer patients will have rheumatological adverse events after receiving immunotherapy. Adverse events can include joint or muscle pain, joint swelling, muscle stiffness, vasculitis, dry eyes and mouth, and myositis, which can severely impact quality of life and be organ- or life-threatening. Our team seeks to ensure that patients’ immunotherapy treatment is not interrupted due to adverse events or autoimmune issues. The clinic treats patients in a timely manner, allowing them to start or resume immunotherapy as soon as possible to successfully treat their cancer. At the same time, adverse events are effectively treated to preserve the function of inflamed organs. We collaborate with oncologists to ensure that the treatment of these adverse events does not lessen the efficacy of the immunotherapy treatment. Strong communication and personalized patient management with referring physicians is one of the hallmarks of the program. The Yale Immunotherapy Adverse Events in Rheumatology Program has an outstanding research program that aims to understand the mechanisms of autoimmune disorders secondary to immune-based cancer therapy. We analyze human biospecimens obtained from eligible subjects from our center to identify molecular, transcriptomic, and cellular characteristics using cutting-edge genomic and immunologic technologies. The findings from humans are validated or further explored using various animal models in the laboratory of Sang Taek Kim, MD, PhD, director of the program. As the use of immunotherapy grows to address more types of cancer—and adverse events increase accordingly—Dr. Kim and his team will use data from the clinic and the laboratory to gain insights that lead to a deeper understanding of the predictive markers for adverse events, as well as the development of optimal treatment strategies.

With the development of the Early Phase Clinical Trial Program at Yale Cancer Center, there are over 50 Phase I trials open and that number is growing. Phase I trials allow clinicians to look for new causes for drug effectiveness or drug resistance. These early trials bring in additional resources for the work that needs to be done by our researchers. Among the most exciting trials underway are five using “checkpoint inhibitor” immunotherapies that activate the immune system and shrink tumors. The targets are melanoma, kidney cancer, lung cancer, and others. These trials have built Yale Cancer Center’s reputation as an innovator in immune-based therapies. The Early Phase Clinical Trial Program at Smilow Cancer Hospital opened in 2016 at 55 Park Street in New Haven and is a dynamic hub of Phase I trials. Attractive and state-of-the-art, the Center is at the heart of Yale Cancer Center’s Phase I Clinical Trials Program and is dedicated to the care of patients on Phase I clinical trials. The Early Phase Clinical Trial Program program affords patients not only hope, but also the ability to participate in research with clinical impact—research that will advance new drugs, which could advance to FDA approval. View a list of available Phase I Trials.