Impact of immune-related adverse events on quality of life and physical functioning in older patients with solid tumors treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) improved survival in solid tumors but can cause immune-related adverse events (irAEs) that may affect quality of life (QOL) and physical functioning. The impact of severe irAEs on these outcomes remains unclear, particularly in frail older patients. This study evaluated the association between grade ≥ 3 irAEs and QOL and/or physical functioning over time in frail versus non-frail older patients receiving ICI therapy.

Multi-omic analysis identifies hypoalbuminemia as independent biomarker of poor outcome upon PD-1 blockade in metastatic melanoma.

We evaluated the prognostic value of hypoalbuminemia in context of various biomarkers at baseline, including clinical, genomic, transcriptomic, and blood-based markers, in patients with metastatic melanoma treated with anti-PD-1 monotherapy or anti-PD-1/anti-CTLA-4 combination therapy (n = 178). An independent validation cohort (n = 79) was used to validate the performance of hypoalbuminemia compared to serum LDH (lactate dehydrogenase) levels. Pre-treatment hypoalbuminemia emerged as the strongest predictor of poor outcome for both OS (HR = 4.

Effects of CTLA-4 Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms on Toxicity of Ipilimumab-Containing Regimens in Patients With Advanced Stage Melanoma.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4) gene, an inhibitor of T-cell priming, are associated with auto and alloimmunity. Studies implied a role for these SNPs as surrogate markers for immunotherapy-outcome in patients with melanoma. However, no predictive SNPs are defined to date.

Review - The impact of pharmacogenetics on the outcome of immune checkpoint inhibitors.

The development of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has a tremendous effect on the treatment options for multiple types of cancer. Nonetheless, there is a large interpatient variability in response, survival, and the development of immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Pharmacogenetics is the general term for germline genetic variations, which may cause the observed interindividual differences in response or toxicity to treatment.

Suitability of tumor-associated antibodies as predictive biomarker for response to immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with melanoma: a short report.

In 2019, Fässler showed in this journal that the presence of tumor-associated antibodies correlated with response to immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment in patients with metastatic melanoma. The results of this study suggested that tumor-associated antibodies directed against melanocyte-differentiation antigens and the cancer-germline antigen NY-ESO-1 should be further investigated as candidate biomarkers for response to immune checkpoint inhibitors. The aim of the current study was to validate and extend these previous findings.

The course of C-peptide levels in patients developing diabetes during anti-PD-1 therapy.

Introduction: Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) associated diabetes is a harmful adverse event (AE) in patients with cancer following anti-programmed (cell) death protein-1 (PD-1) treatment. There are no available biomarkers able to predict this AE. The primary aim of this study was to investigate C-peptide levels as potential predictor for the occurrence of ICI-related diabetes.

Associations between patient and disease characteristics and severe adverse events during immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment: An observational study.

Aim: With increasing use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) more patients will develop severe and potentially life-threatening immune-related adverse events (irAEs). So far, predictive models for the occurrence of grade ≥3 irAEs are lacking. Therefore, we analysed associations between patient and disease characteristics, and the occurrence of grade ≥3 irAEs.

Life-prolonging treatment restrictions and outcomes in patients with cancer and COVID-19: an update from the Dutch Oncology COVID-19 Consortium.

Aim Of The Study: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic significantly impacted cancer care. In this study, clinical patient characteristics related to COVID-19 outcomes and advanced care planning, in terms of non-oncological treatment restrictions (e.g.

Prospective real-world study on the pharmacokinetics of pembrolizumab in patients with solid tumors.

Background: Dosing schemes of pembrolizumab (anti-programmed cell death protein 1 monoclonal antibody) are solely based on pharmacokinetic (PK) modelling derived from phase I-III trials. The current study aimed to determine factors affecting PK and its relationship with clinical outcome in the real-world setting.

Methods: Advanced-stage cancer patients, who were treated with pembrolizumab monotherapy (2 mg/kg Q3W or 200 mg flat Q3W), were prospectively included for serial sampling to obtain trough concentrations.

The role of local therapy in the treatment of solitary melanoma progression on immune checkpoint inhibition: A multicentre retrospective analysis.

Introduction: In patients with metastatic melanoma, progression of a single tumour lesion (solitary progression) after response to immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) is increasingly treated with local therapy. We evaluated the role of local therapy for solitary progression in melanoma.

Patients And Methods: Patients with metastatic melanoma treated with ICI between 2010 and 2019 with solitary progression as first progressive event were included from 17 centres in 9 countries.

Dutch Oncology COVID-19 consortium: Outcome of COVID-19 in patients with cancer in a nationwide cohort study.

Aim Of The Study: Patients with cancer might have an increased risk for severe outcome of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). To identify risk factors associated with a worse outcome of COVID-19, a nationwide registry was developed for patients with cancer and COVID-19.

Methods: This observational cohort study has been designed as a quality of care registry and is executed by the Dutch Oncology COVID-19 Consortium (DOCC), a nationwide collaboration of oncology physicians in the Netherlands.