The adverse effects of neuromuscular junction dysfunctions caused by immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) drugs have not been thoroughly assessed in the clinics.

To assess the neuromuscular junction dysfunctions in cancer patients with adverse events caused by ICI therapy by searching the Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database.

The FAERS data from January 2004 to December 2020 were collected to analyze the association between neuromuscular connection dysfunction and ICI use. Disproportionate analysis and Bayesian analysis were used to quantify the association between the neuromuscular junction dysfunctions and ICIs. The onset time and outcome of neuromuscular junction dysfunctions in different ICI regimens were also compared.

Out of 88,617 adverse event reports, 557 neuromuscular junction dysfunction reports (0.63%) were analyzed. Marketed ICI drugs, including ipilimumab, nivolumab, pembrolizumab, atezolizumab, durvalumab, cemiplimab, avelumab, as well as their combinations, showed positive associations with four detection methods. Most of the adverse event reports were associated with the use of nivolumab (53.32%) and pembrolizumab (31.96%). However, nivolumab-related neuromuscular junction dysfunctions were similar with pembrolizumab (33.33% vs 33.14%, p > 0.05). The onset time of neuromuscular junction dysfunctions showed no significant difference among different ICIs (p > 0.05).

Analysis of FAERS data identified that over 30% (32.85%) of reports of neuromuscular junction dysfunctions resulted in death. Ongoing monitoring, risk evaluations, and further comparative studies of ICIs should be considered.