Autoimmune myocarditis is a rare, but frequently fatal, side-effect of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), a class of drugs used to treat cancer. Due to the overwhelming complexity of the immune system, this condition is not well understood, despite the significant research efforts devoted to it. To better understand ICI-induced autoimmune myocarditis, we suggest a new approach: mathematical modelling. Mathematical modelling of myocarditis can help determine which parts of the immune system are critical to the development and progression of the disease and therefore warrant further investigation. In this paper, we aim to provide the immunological background needed to develop a mathematical model of this disease and review relevant existing models of immunology that serve as the mathematical inspiration needed to start this effort.
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