Abstract
Background
Anti-programmed cell death (PD)-1 and anti-PD-L1 medications inhibit the PD-1 and PD-L1 interaction and have been shown to be effective in treating several forms of advanced cancers. Since the approval of these agents, standard dosing protocols have been utilized. However, a small population of patients in the community setting has received dose-modified PD-1 and PD-L1 inhibitors secondary to a lack of tolerability. Data from this study suggests possible benefit with different dosing strategies.
Objectives
The purpose of this retrospective study is to assess the efficacy and tolerability in terms of time to progression and adverse effects in patients receiving dose-modified PD-1 and PD-L1 inhibitors in Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-labeled indications.
Methods
This single-institution retrospective chart review was conducted in an outpatient community setting on patients with cancer that received nivolumab, pembrolizumab, durvalumab, or atezolizumab for an FDA indication at one of the Houston Methodist Hospital infusion clinic site between September 1, 2017 and September 30, 2019. Data collection included demographics, adverse effects, dosing, treatment delay, and number of immunotherapy cycles administered per patient.
Results
This study included 221 patients, who received either nivolumab (n = 81), pembrolizumab (n = 93), atezolizumab (n = 21), or durvalumab (n = 26). There were 11 patients who experienced a dose reduction and 103 patients who experienced a treatment delay. Of the patients with a treatment delay, the median time to progression was 197 days, and for patients with a dose reduction, the median time to progression was 299 days.
Conclusion
The results of this study found that the immunotherapy associated adverse effects led to dosing and frequency changes for tolerance with continued therapy. Our data suggests that there could be potential benefits of dose modifications to immunotherapy treatment, but further large studies are needed to assess the efficacy of specific immunotherapy dose modifications on both outcomes and adverse effects.
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