The prevalence of the musculoskeletal immune-related adverse events (irAEs) is probably underestimated, as most studies report only severe side effects. Our aim was to describe and characterize all musculoskeletal irAEs in a large cohort of patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI).

We conducted a retrospective study among patients who received ICI from 07/27/2014 to 05/08/2020 at the medical oncology department of the Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Marseille, France. All medical files were systemically reviewed by a rheumatologist who collected clinical features, time of occurrence, treatment regimen, irAEs management, course and outcomes. We also assessed tumor response 3 months after introduction of ICI, according to severity and treatments used to manage musculoskeletal irAEs.

Among 927 patients treated with ICI for a solid tumor, 118 patients (12.7%) presented a musculoskeletal irAE. Their median age was 66.5, 61% were male, and they mainly had a lung (57.6%) or urological cancer (27.1%). The most frequently involved ICI was an anti PD-1. Arthralgias and myalgias were the most frequent musculoskeletal irAEs (9.8%) and inflammatory rheumatic features were reported in 36 patients (3.9%) with elevated acute phase reactants and negative immunological markers. The median time of onset was 2 months (IC 95% 1.8; 2.7). Tumor response at 3 months did not differ according to musculoskeletal irAE severity, type of manifestation (arthralgias/myalgias versus inflammatory rheumatic features), pain patterns (mechanical versus inflammatory) or irAE treatments.

Musculoskeletal irAEs in this large cohort of patients treated with ICI were frequent (12.7%), mostly mild and well tolerated.