On November 9, 2021, an online event (webinar) was held with the support of MSD on "Immune-mediated side effects of immunotherapeutic drugs and methods of their correction", which was attended by interns of the Department of Oncology of the first and second years of study.

The urgency of this webinar is due to the increasing clinical use of immunotherapeutic drugs in oncological treatment. It should be noted that tumor cells can express antigens that are absent in healthy tissues, what constitutes a prerequisite for the development of antitumor response in the body. Of course, tumor cells try to avoid this immune response, in particular by using of so-called inhibitory control pathways (PD-1 and CTLA-4).

 Blocking of these pathways may restore the antitumor response, but such activation can also reduce the autotolerance of the immune cells outside the tumor, what can lead to the development of immune-mediated side effects, most often in the form of pneumonitis, thyroiditis, hepatitis, pancreatitis, and myocarditis. Ukrainian oncologists have experience in the drug "Kitruda" (Pembrolizumab) clinical application, which contains humanized monoclonal antibodies to the receptor for the programmed cell death PD-1.

During the event, our students received necessary relevant information on the immune-mediated side effects, as well as on the methods of their timely diagnosis and elimination. The speakers were GE Kryzhanivska. Professor, MD, Head of Department of Oncology of IFDMU and Urzhumova NG - Ph.D., Head of the Department of Chemotherapy, KNL "MKL-4" DMR, Center for International Clinical Trials, Dnipro City.

We hope that in the coming years in Ukraine much more modern immunotherapeutic drugs would be registered, allowing the doctors to use them widely in treatment of cancer.