Thyroid dysfunction caused by immune checkpoint inhibitors improves cancer outcomes

in Endocrine-Related Cancer
Authors:
Marta García-Goñi Department of Endocrinology and Nutrition, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain

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Beatriz Vázquez Gutiérrez Department of Endocrinology and Nutrition, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain

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Miguel F Sanmamed Department of Oncology, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain

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Salvador Martín-Algarra Department of Oncology, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
IdiSNA (Instituto de investigación en la Salud de Navarra), Pamplona, Spain

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José Luis Pérez-Gracia Department of Oncology, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
IdiSNA (Instituto de investigación en la Salud de Navarra), Pamplona, Spain

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María Olmedo Department of Oncology, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain

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Estefanía Chumbiauca Department of Endocrinology and Nutrition, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain

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Nerea Martín-Calvo IdiSNA (Instituto de investigación en la Salud de Navarra), Pamplona, Spain
Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
CIBER de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y la Nutrición, Pamplona, Spain

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Juan C Galofré Department of Endocrinology and Nutrition, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain

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https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0227-3566

Correspondence should be addressed to J C Galofré: jcgalofre@unav.es
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A common immune-related adverse event (irAE) with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) is thyroid dysfunction (TD-irAEs). The clinical presentation can be varied, and its association with prognosis remains unclear. We investigated the characteristics of TD-irAEs and their association with clinical outcomes among cancer patients treated with ICIs in a real-life setting. Response to treatment was assessed using RECIST v1.1. We calculated the probability of recurrence and survival associated with TD-irAEs using multivariable-adjusted regression and Cox proportional hazards models. In this single-center retrospective analysis, we included 238 patients (72% male) with a median age of 69.5 years. Primary tumors were melanoma (23.1%), lung (60.5%), or urothelial cancer (16.4%), treated with atezolizumab (23.1%), pembrolizumab (44.5%), ipilimumab (0.4%), and/or nivolumab (25.6%). Seventy (29%) patients developed TD-irAEs in a median time of 69 days (41–181). The incidence of TD-irAEs with combination therapy was higher than with monotherapy (67% vs 6.3%, P = 0.011). TD-irAE patients showed a higher objective response rate (ORR) than those without TD-irAEs (60% vs 42.3%, P = 0.013) and longer overall survival (OS) 45 vs 16 months, P < 0.006. Patients who developed TD-irAEs had a relative reduction of 77% (OR 0.23, 95% CI 0.11–0.47) in the risk of progression and of 47% in the risk of mortality (HR 0.53, 95% CI 0.36–0.80), independent of age, sex, primary tumor, or ICI regimen. TD-irAEs occur in nearly 30% of our patients receiving ICIs. In our analysis, TD-irAEs appeared to be associated with higher ORR and longer OS and showed a reduction in the risk of progression and mortality.

 

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