A class of cancer immunotherapy called checkpoint inhibitors has revolutionized cancer treatment. It’s a new way to attack the disease by unleashing the immune system. However, not every patient benefits from the treatment, and it can cause severe, sometimes life-threatening, side effects in some. New research shows that one group of patients may be at greater risk. The results, published in JAMA Network Open December 2nd, show that women with advanced melanoma are twice as likely as men to die when treated with the same combination of checkpoint inhibitors.
