Hiding in Plain Sight: A series of educational programs to help community pharmacists who provide care for patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors. This series includes an overview of the mechanism of action of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), associated immune-related adverse events (irAEs), and when to refer patients to their oncologist for assessment and management of symptoms consistent with irAEs.

Immunotherapies have revolutionized the way patients with cancer are treated. As a community pharmacist, you may not yet have had the chance to dive into the deeper details of immune check point inhibitor (ICI) agents; however, many of the patients who you see every day at the pharmacy are receiving immunotherapies. Toxicities associated with ICIs are common, and early recognition of symptoms associated with immune-related adverse events can prevent progression into a more serious toxicity. 

Community pharmacists are the front line of medicine and your expertise is vital in optimizing the care of this vulnerable patient population. Your expertise in recognizing symptoms early and referring patients for additional work-up to the medical oncology team can improve patient outcomes.

Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors & Dermatologic Toxicities: Key Points for the Community Pharmacist (one hour, non-CE)

This training includes an overview of the mechanism of action of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), associated dermatologic immune-related adverse events (irAEs), and when to refer patients to their oncologist for assessment and management of symptoms consistent with irAEs.

Learning Objectives: 

After the completion of this knowledge-based activity, participants will be able to: 

• Describe the mechanism of action of immune checkpoint inhibitors.  
• Categorize the seven Food and Drug Administration–approved immune checkpoint inhibitors as cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) inhibitors, programmed death-1 (PD-1) inhibitors, or programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitors.  
• Recognize the presenting symptoms of the most common dermatologic immune-related adverse events  in patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors.  
• Identify the best questions to ask patients with cancer to determine the symptoms and severity of a potential dermatologic immune-related adverse event.  
• Discuss when and how to refer patients to their medical oncologist for further work-up.

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Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors & Gastrointestinal Toxicities: Key Points for the Community Pharmacist (one-hour, CE)

This training includes an overview of the mechanism of action of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), associated gastrointestinal immune-related adverse events (irAEs), and when to refer patients to their oncologist for assessment and management of symptoms consistent with irAEs.

Learning Objectives:

After completion of this knowledge-based activity, participants will be able to: 

• Describe the mechanism of action of immune checkpoint inhibitors.  
• Categorize the seven Food and Drug Administration–approved immune checkpoint inhibitors as cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) inhibitors, programmed death-1 (PD-1) inhibitors, or programmed death-ligand (PD-L1) inhibitors.  
• Recognize the presenting symptoms of the most common gastrointestinal immune-related adverse events in patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors. 
• Identify the best questions to ask patients with cancer to determine the symptoms and severity of a potential gastrointestinal immune-related adverse event.  
• Discuss when and how to refer patients to their medical oncologist for further work-up.   

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Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors & Respiratory Toxicities: Key Points for the Community Pharmacist (one-hour, CE)

This training includes an overview of the mechanism of action of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), associated respiratory immune-related adverse events (irAEs), and when to refer patients to their oncologist for assessment and management of symptoms consistent with irAEs.

Learning Objectives:

After completion of this knowledge-based activity, participants will be able to: 

• Describe the mechanism of action of immune checkpoint inhibitors.  
• Categorize the seven Food and Drug Administration–approved immune checkpoint inhibitors as cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) inhibitors, programmed death-1 (PD-1) inhibitors, or programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitors.  
• Recognize the presenting symptoms of the most common respiratory immune-related adverse events in patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors.  
• Identify the best questions to ask patients with cancer to determine the symptoms and severity of a potential respiratory immune-related adverse event.
• Discuss when and how to refer patients to their medical oncologist for further work-up.   

Learn more