Response assessment and toxicity in patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors in solid tumors : A comprehensive cancer care center experience from India.

Abstract

e14562 Background: Checkpoint inhibitors are approved in various solid malignancies in either first-line or following progression on chemotherapy. These have shown good efficacy with low toxicity. However, there are very few studies from Indian centers. The purpose of the study was to assess the real world efficacy and toxicity in patients treated with Immunotherapy (IO) in various solid malignancies. Methods: The present study is a retrospective single-center hospital-based registry study that included 94 patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors in various solid malignancies from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2020. The investigator assessed response at 3-months post-initiation of treatment has been reported. Patients who received less than two months of Immunotherapy were excluded in response analysis. Adverse events during IO were documented and graded using CTCAE (Common terminology criteria for adverse events), v.5.0. All statistical analysis was performed using Microsoft Excel 2016 and R software (Rx 64 version 3.6.2). Results: Sixty-nine patients who received more than 2 months of IO were assessed. Baseline characteristics of patients are listed in table 1. Lung cancer 29% (n= 27) Head and neck cancer 22% (n=21) and metastatic renal cell carcinoma 10% (n=9) were the common cancers where IO was given. Overall response rate at 3 months was 55% (n=38). Progressive disease and stable disease were seen in 39% (n=27) and 6% (n=5) patients respectively. The reported severe adverse events were pneumonitis, colitis, and hepatitis, with Grade 3 or more toxicities were in 7% (5/69) patients. Conclusions: IO was associated with clinical benefit and fewer toxic effects; however, increased treatment cost remains a significant concern in developing countries like India.[Table: see text]