Abstract
e24020 Background: Aging inevitably leads to an accumulation of senescent cells, and immune system cells aren't an exception. They can contribute to a pro-inflammatory state and be involved in the immune escape of cancer cells through a boosted PD-L1 expression. Immunocheckpoint inhibitors (ICIs) represent the standard of care in several cancer histotypes, and immune-related adverse events (irAEs) seem to be associated with better outcomes. ICIs represent a valid therapeutic agent in elderly patients too. However, there is a lack of data on irAEs and outcomes correlation in this subgroup of patients. This retrospective-prospective study aims to evaluate the relationship between thyroid dysfunction and progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in elderly patients undergoing ICIs. Methods: From January 2019 to January 2023, we retrospectively collected data from 65 elderly patients under treatment with ICIs at the Medical Oncology Unit of the University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Italy. All patients were affected by stage IV disease. The primary endpoint was PFS and the secondary endpoint was overall survival OS. Statistical analyses were performed using the MedCalc Statistical Software Version 20.216. Results: The median age was 76 (± 5,5); 15.38% were female, whereas 84.62% were male. The histologies were: melanoma (26.9%), lung cancer (48.0%), kidney cancer (15.3%), and colorectal cancer (9.8%). Compared to those without thyroid dysfunction during immunotherapy treatment, individuals with thyroid irAE had, at univariate analysis, longer median PFS (68 versus 26 months, p = 0.02, CI 95% 18.0-68.0, HR 0.29 0.10-0.83) and longer median OS (59 versus 39 months, p = 0.04, CI 95% 25.0-90.0 HR 0.50 0.25-0.99). Conclusions: In an era where biomarkers for immunotherapeutic agents are lacking, thyroid dysfunction irAE could be a predictive factor of better PFS and OS in elderly patients affected by cancer of various histology.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
