In a nutshell
The authors evaluated immune system-related adverse events and outcomes in melanoma patients treated with nivolumab (Opdivo).
Some background
In the advanced stage of melanoma (stage 3/4), cancer spreads from the skin to other parts of the body. Immunotherapy is a promising treatment option in advanced melanoma. Immunotherapy uses the body’s own immune system to fight cancer. Nivolumab is an example of immunotherapy that works by inhibiting (blocking) PD-1, an important protein in the immune system. This inhibition triggers the immune system to attack tumor cells and kill them.
The most common side effects associated with nivolumab are known as immune-related adverse events (irAE). These events often include skin rashes or inlammation in areas such as the lungs, intestines or thyroid. Understanding the occurrences and type of these irAEs is critical since they may impact quality of life of patients.
Methods & findings
The authors aimed to analyze the irAEs in advanced melanoma patients treated with nivolumab.
The records of 148 patients were included in this study. Out of these, 33 patients had their tumors surgically removed. For 133 patients, the tumors could not be surgically removed. Patients were treated with nivolumab plus vaccine or nivolumab alone every 2 weeks for 12 weeks.
68.2% of patients experienced irAEs of any grade. The most commone irAEs were rash (43.2% of patients), vitiligo (discoleration of the skin; 12.8% of patients) and diarrhea/inflammation of the intestine (32.4% of patients). Only 2% patients had severe (grade 3) rash.
An improved overall survival (patients still alive after treatment) was observed in patients with any grade of irAE compared to those without any. The risk of a short overall survival was 58% lower in patients who had skin rashes and 82% lower in patients who had vitiligo. Other irAEs did not significantly affect overall survival.
The bottom line
The authors concluded that skin irAEs were associated with improved survival in advanced melanoma patients treated with nivolumab.
Published By :
Clinical Cancer Research
Date :
Oct 07, 2015
