In a nutshell
This study evaluated the risk of heart-related (HR) side effects in patients with lung cancer treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI). Patients with lung cancer were shown to have a higher risk of developing HR side effects when treated with ICIs.
Some background
ICIs are a type of cancer therapy used to treat a wide variety of cancers. Tumor cells try to avoid death by switching off our immune system. ICI work by blocking the off switch of the immune system. This allows the immune system to fight and kill tumor cells.
There are different types of ICIs. PD1 inhibitors (PD1i) such as pembrolizumab (Keytruda) and nivolumab (Opdivo) target the PD1 off switch.
ICIs have been shown to cause HR side effects in some patients. HR side effects include heart attack, irregular heartbeat, and infection of the lining around the heart. The risk of HR side effects in patients with lung cancer is not currently known.
Methods & findings
This study included data from different trials. 743 patients with lung cancer were treated with PD1i. The average follow-up time from the first dose of PD1i was 164 days.
Patients treated with PD1i were 2.14 times more likely to have HR side effects compared to those without PD1i in the first 6 months of the first PD1i dose. The risk of HR side effects was 2.26 times higher more than 6 months after the first PD1i dose compared to those not treated with PD1is.
The bottom line
This study showed that patients with lung cancer who were treated with ICIs had an increased risk of HR side effects.
The fine print
Because this study was based on previous data, the treatments were not randomized. The sample sizes were small. The follow-up time was short which meant some outcomes could not be evaluated. There was no information on risk factors such as smoking which could have impacted HR side effects.
What’s next?
If you have concerns about HR side effects, please discuss this with your doctor.
Published By :
European Heart Journal
Date :
Dec 09, 2020
