How to manage patients with corticosteroids in oncology in the era of immunotherapy?

Association of Systemic Steroid Treatment and Outcome in Patients Treated with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: A Real-World Analysis

Background: Immune-related adverse events (irAEs) are inflammatory side effects, which can occur during immune-checkpoint(s) inhibitors (ICIs) therapy. Steroids are the first-line agents to manage irAEs because of their immunosuppressive properties. However, it is still debated whether or when steroids can be administered without abrogating the therapeutic efforts of immunotherapy. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 146 patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), melanoma and renal cell carcinoma (RCC) treated with ICIs. We assessed the progression-free survival (PFS) of patients treated with steroids due to an irAE compared to a no-steroid group. Results: The early treatment with steroid (within the first 30 days from the beginning of immunotherapy) was not related to a shorter PFS (p = 0.077). Interestingly, patients who were treated with steroids after 30 days from the start of immunotherapy had significantly longer PFS (p = 0.017). In a multivariate analysis, treatment with steroids after 30 days was an independent prognostic factor for PFS (HR: 0.59 [95% CI 0.36–0.97], p = 0.037). Conclusions: This retrospective study points out that early systemic steroids administration to manage irAEs might not have a detrimental effect on patient clinical outcome in NSCLC, melanoma and RCC patients.

The Impact of Induction Regimes on Immune Responses in Patients with Multiple Myeloma

Current standard frontline therapy for newly diagnosed patients with multiple myeloma (NDMM) involves induction therapy, autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT), and maintenance therapy. Major efforts are underway to understand the biological and the clinical impacts of each stage of the treatment protocols on overall survival statistics. The most routinely used drugs in the pre-ASCT "induction" regime have different mechanisms of action and are employed either as monotherapies or in various combinations. Aside from their direct effects on cancer cell mortality, these drugs are also known to have varying effects on immune cell functionality. The question remains as to how induction therapy impacts post-ASCT immune reconstitution and anti-tumor immune responses. This review provides an update on the known immune effects of melphalan, dexamethasone, lenalidomide, and bortezomib commonly used in the induction phase of MM therapy. By analyzing the actions of each individual drug on the immune system, we suggest it might be possible to leverage their effects to rationally devise more effective induction regimes. Given the genetic heterogeneity between myeloma patients, it may also be possible to identify subgroups of patients for whom particular induction drug combinations would be more appropriate.

Primary results from IMpassion131, a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised phase III trial of first-line paclitaxel with or without atezolizumab for unresectable locally advanced/metastatic triple-negative breast cancer

BACKGROUND

In the phase III IMpassion130 trial, combining atezolizumab with first-line nanoparticle albumin-bound-paclitaxel for advanced triple-negative breast cancer (aTNBC) showed a statistically significant progression-free survival (PFS) benefit in the intention-to-treat (ITT) and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1)-positive populations, and a clinically meaningful overall survival (OS) effect in PD-L1-positive aTNBC. The phase III KEYNOTE-355 trial adding pembrolizumab to chemotherapy for aTNBC showed similar PFS effects. IMpassion131 evaluated first-line atezolizumab-paclitaxel in aTNBC.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Eligible patients [no prior systemic therapy or ≥12 months since (neo)adjuvant chemotherapy] were randomised 2:1 to atezolizumab 840 mg or placebo (days 1, 15), both with paclitaxel 90 mg/m² (days 1, 8, 15), every 28 days until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Stratification factors were tumour PD-L1 status, prior taxane, liver metastases and geographical region. The primary endpoint was investigator-assessed PFS, tested hierarchically first in the PD-L1-positive [immune cell expression ≥1%, VENTANA PD-L1 (SP142) assay] population, and then in the ITT population. OS was a secondary endpoint.

RESULTS

Of 651 randomised patients, 45% had PD-L1-positive aTNBC. At the primary PFS analysis, adding atezolizumab to paclitaxel did not improve investigator-assessed PFS in the PD-L1-positive population [hazard ratio (HR) 0.82, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.60-1.12; P = 0.20; median PFS 6.0 months with atezolizumab-paclitaxel versus 5.7 months with placebo-paclitaxel]. In the PD-L1-positive population, atezolizumab-paclitaxel was associated with more favourable unconfirmed best overall response rate (63% versus 55% with placebo-paclitaxel) and median duration of response (7.2 versus 5.5 months, respectively). Final OS results showed no difference between arms (HR 1.11, 95% CI 0.76-1.64; median 22.1 months with atezolizumab-paclitaxel versus 28.3 months with placebo-paclitaxel in the PD-L1-positive population). Results in the ITT population were consistent with the PD-L1-positive population. The safety profile was consistent with known effects of each study drug.

CONCLUSION

Combining atezolizumab with paclitaxel did not improve PFS or OS versus paclitaxel alone. CLINICALTRIALS.GOV: NCT03125902.

[Impact of the use of systemic corticosteroid therapy on the effectiveness of immune checkpoint inhibitors]

Immunotherapy, which consists in using molecules targeting the immune system, has existed for many years in oncology (vaccines, interleukins, monoclonal antibodies) but has recently expanded due to the development of immune checkpoint inhibitors. These monoclonal antibodies help to restore the immunity against cancer by specifically targeting some immune checkpoints such as CTLA-4, PD-1 and PD-L1. Furthermore, in oncology, it is common to use systemic corticosteroids in the management of symptoms linked to the natural history of the disease (pain, spinal cord compression, cerebral edema) and toxicities linked to anticancer treatment. The impact of corticosteroids on the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors is still poorly understood and they should be used cautiously. According to previously published studies, there seems to be a deleterious effect of corticosteroid therapy on the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors when administered before or at the initiation of immunotherapy, while this effect does not seem present when corticosteroids are administered to patients already undergoing immunotherapy. The aim of this work is to analyze the existing data evaluating the impact of corticosteroid use of on the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Safety, Precautions, and Modalities in Cancer Rehabilitation: an Updated Review

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Providing rehabilitation to patients with cancer can be challenging due to the medical complexity associated with the illness and its treatments. This article provides the reader with a summary of frequently encountered medical conditions in the cancer population and associated safety considerations and precautions. An update on treatment modalities commonly used for symptom management is also presented.

RECENT FINDINGS

Cancer and cancer treatments can cause changes in multiple organ systems. Special considerations and precautions are necessary to provide safe and effective rehabilitation. Physical modalities can be used as monotherapy or adjunct to treatment for common cancer-related side effects with recent studies noting benefit with a variety of modalities.

SUMMARY

Detailed assessment of the cancer patient is necessary before implementing a rehabilitation program. Understanding cancer and side effects of treatments, including newer options, are necessary to provide safe care.