Application progress of tuberculosis interferon-γ release assay in immune checkpoint inhibitors treatment

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are being widely applied in the treatment of various malignancies, significantly prolonging survival and improving quality of life. However, consequent immune-related adverse events have emerged as new clinical challenges. As a high-burden country for tuberculosis (TB), China faces particular concern regarding the impact of ICIs therapy on TB reactivation in cancer patients. Based on the detection principles of the TB interferon-γ release assay (TB-IGRA), this review explores its potential value in predicting ICIs efficacy and proposes a management algorithm for pulmonary TB patients undergoing ICIs treatment, aiming to maximize clinical benefits while ensuring safety.