Background: The novel coronavirus, known as SARS-CoV-2, or COVID-19 became a pandemic in early 2020, causing significant human suffering and economic woes globally. The pathophysiology of acute respiratory failure may be related to a robust immune reaction against the virally infected cells (figure 1). This mechanism is molecularly similar to that of cytokine release syndrome, which is mediated by cytokine IL-1 and can be seen as a complication of immunotherapy. Methods: Clinical data from cancer patients treated for cytokine release syndrome were collected from an interventional oncology practice and retrospective analysis was performed. Results: Five patients were treated for cytokine release syndrome related to administration of immunotherapy agents. Symptoms included hypotension, loss of consciousness, fever, headache, and respiratory failure. Three of these patients were treated with anakinra, with abrogation of symptoms of cytokine release syndrome (table 1). The remaining two patients received glucocorticoids, vasopressors, and respiratory support, suffering progressive symptoms of cytokine release syndrome, and death (table 2).