Association Between Immune-related Adverse Events and Clinical Outcome Following Nivolumab Treatment in Patients With Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma
Kazuo Kobayashi, Yusuke Iikura, Makoto Hiraide, Takashi Yokokawa, Takeshi Aoyama, Sari Shikibu, Koki Hashimoto, Kenichi Suzuki, Hitoshi Sato, Erika Sugiyama, Masataka Tajima, Toshihiro Hama
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM: Immune-related adverse events (irAEs) are associated with the efficacy of immune-checkpoint inhibitors in patients with melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer. We therefore evaluated the relationship between irAEs and nivolumab efficacy against metastatic renal cell carcinoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The medical records of 53 consecutive patients were reviewed and analyzed. RESULTS: Median overall survival was significantly better in patients who showed irAEs at any time compared to patients without irAEs (p=0.013). We identified irAEs in 24 of 53 patients (45.3%), including four patients (7.5%) with grade 3 events. Multivariate analysis also revealed that risk factors for the onset of irAEs were positively associated with a platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio <156 before nivolumab treatment (p=0.006). CONCLUSION: Development of irAEs was associated with survival outcomes of nivolumab treated patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma.